Results 15,901-15,920 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that the areas to which the Deputy refers, like many located in close proximity to Dublin, continue to experience population growth, a position that almost inevitably places some strain on existing educational provision. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a range of significant measures has been undertaken by my Department to address the current and future need for pupil places...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department has received an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation...

Written Answers — Public-Private Partnerships: Public-Private Partnerships (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department signed the contract for the new Cork School of Music, CSM, public private partnership project in September 2005. The capital cost of the project is €60.2 million, and the annual unitary payment, UP, will be €7.8 million. My Department did not enter into any PPP contracts in 2004.

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 218 together. The working group on the weight of schoolbags, in its report presented in 1998, indicated that little is known about the short or long-term consequences of load-carrying by children. The report referred to a number of studies which had been carried out on the matter of the weight of schoolbags. However, the report stated that the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under my Department's free fees initiative it is the Exchequer that meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved third level courses in the State. If the Deputy can provide me with additional background information on the subject matter of the question I will have the matter further examined.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Due to the rapid rate of population growth in the area since the project was initiated, the proposed project at the school referred to by the Deputy had to be re-assessed in order to ensure that planned capital investment would adequately meet the current and future accommodation needs of the school. A review of the long-term enrolment at the school has recently been completed. In view of the...

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department normally issues one copy of a circular to each school. In some instances, where the subject matter is likely to be of particular interest or concern to the parent body, the school is asked to provide a copy of the circular to the appropriate representatives of parents, normally the parents' council, for transmission to individual parents. In this way both the school authorities...

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In my response to Questions Nos. 556 and 558, I set out the full range of measures which have been taken or can be taken with regard to this issue. I do not propose to add to that position except to reiterate that school textbooks are not approved or prescribed by my Department and that decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. As I informed the Deputy in my previous answer,...

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, my Department does not approve or prescribe school books-workbooks at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. The publication and sale of school books-workbooks are in the hands of independent commercial enterprises and it is not open to me to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school referred to by the Deputy. I am also aware of the recent whole-school evaluation report which was completed on the school. The school's application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised last year following consultation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for capital funding in 2003. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-2009.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions No. 224 and 223 together. In the post-leaving certificate, PLC, sector, an additional 1,540 student places were approved by my Department during 2005. The majority of these additional student places were notified to PLC providers on the basis of applications received earlier this year. A further 60 student places will be approved shortly. On the basis of a pupil...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: This Government is strongly committed to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure a wide range of course options is available in the further and higher education sectors for young people who wish to continue their studies after second-level and for people returning to education later in life. Post-leaving...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department received correspondence from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland seeking approval for the inclusion of the winter streams of the professional practice course one under the higher education grant scheme for 2005-06. The application for course approval is still under active consideration within my Department. A decision will be made as soon as possible and notification of same...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post-leaving certificate courses in approved PLC Centres: the higher education grants scheme; the Vocational Education Committees'...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, officials in my Department carried out architectural assessments on all four primary schools in New Ross in order to determine which, if any, would be suitable to act as hosts for the proposed rationalisation. In addition, the local authority is furnishing my Department with updated demographics on the area so that an informed decision can be taken on school sizes....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in discussion with the local authority on the identification of a suitable site for the proposed new post-primary school for Gorey. I will announce details of the chosen site when it has been identified and all of the requisite protocols have been carried out to secure it.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy made an application for funding for the upgrading of its science laboratory under the summer works scheme 2006. All applications under this scheme are being examined in school planning section of my Department. The list of successful applicants will be published when the assessment process is completed.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy made an application for capital funding towards the provision of additional accommodation. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which was revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-09.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the general allocation of learning support and resource teachers, LSs and RTs, is intended to cater for children with learning support and high incidence special educational needs. The system was constructed so that LS and RT allocations would be based on pupil numbers, taking into account the differing needs of the most disadvantaged schools and evidence that boys...