Results 16,781-16,800 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department was contacted by the chief executive officer of the County Mayo vocational committee, Mr. Joseph Langan, on Friday, 7 October, about the matter. My officials requested that the matter be put in writing so it could be considered. As yet no written communication has been received. The adult literacy services are delivered locally by VECs under the budget for adult literacy,...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In March 2005, County Mayo Vocational Education Committee was notified by the Department of a budget allocation amounting to €529,000 in respect of back to education initiative or BTEI programmes, for the financial period January to December 2005. Approximately 232 places and 45,408 tutor hours are being supported in 2005. An initial payment of 60% of the budget allocation, that is,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is moving towards a model of devolving responsibility, authority and funding for building projects to school management authorities where appropriate. The devolving of funding to local level allows schools to have ownership of their projects and assist in moving projects in a specific timeframe to tender and construction. Earlier this year I announced details of 97 primary...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is committed to funding the provision of PE, general purpose and outdoor play areas in schools as part of the school building and modernisation programme. This is being addressed in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects. The provision of PE halls at post-primary level is considered an integral part of the design...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 177, 179 and 180 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including determining procedure to enable the review and appeal of results of examinations at the request of candidates. Notwithstanding this, I have had inquiries made with the State Examinations...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are no proposals for the re-introduction of tuition fees for third level undergraduate students.

Written Answers — Multi-Denominational Schools: Multi-Denominational Schools (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, I, as Minister, am obliged to have regard to the need to reflect the diversity of educational services provided in the State. Applying this provision to the development of multi-denominational education, at primary level, my Department has supported the establishment of a significant number of new multi-denominational schools in...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. My Department accepts that Mullingar is a developing town and is taking a number of steps to ensure that its future needs are met in a timely fashion. In this regard, progress on a number of large scale building projects is being considered for progression under the school building and modernisation programme. This involves a combination...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. If the Deputy would like information on a particular school, I would be happy to provide it.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of applications for major capital funding from the management authorities of a number of schools in Mullingar. These applications have 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...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: All qualified primary and post-primary teachers are paid on the common basic scale for teachers. New teachers who complete a three year, full-time recognised primary teacher training course are awarded one increment and are placed on the second point of the common basic scale for teachers. Teachers who complete a recognised primary degree and a recognised full-time postgraduate course are...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am most anxious that all children receive an education appropriate to their needs. The home tuition scheme is primarily intended to provide compensatory instruction for pupils who have a medical ailment that is likely to cause major disruption to their attendance at school. In this context, my Department provides home tuition grants in respect of pupils who cannot attend school at all or...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Section 27 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides that all reasonable legal costs and other costs associated with the preparation and presentation of an application to the redress board will be met by the board. In the event that agreement cannot be reached between the board and the applicant's legal representative, the matter is referred to the taxing master of the High...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular which is issued annually to all primary schools. Within the terms of the current staffing arrangements...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A decision was taken by the trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers that it will close in June 2007. A decision has not yet been taken by my Department on the future use of the school building and site. The concerns of the local parish will be taken into account when considering this matter.

Written Answers — School Meals: School Meals (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: School canteens are not included within the current accommodation brief for new primary or post-primary schools. Generally a servery is provided for schools with general purpose or GP rooms. At primary, the servery comprises a small room with sufficient space to store crockery and a hot water boiler. At post-primary, a fridge and cooker is also provided. The majority of the 400 plus schools...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for a new PE hall at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. The project has been assigned a band four rating and its progress will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of 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...

Written Answers — Multi-denominational Schools: Multi-denominational Schools (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The level of funding that my Department provides to Educate Together as a school management body is on a par with that provided to Foras Patrúnachta na Gaelscoileanna, the Church of Ireland Board of Education, the Islamic Board of Education and the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education. However, following discussions with Educate Together, my Department has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has made a number of important interventions in the Dublin 15 area to meet the demand for educational facilities emanating from new housing developments. Included in these interventions is the reservation of a site in the former Phoenix Park racecourse area specifically to meet the anticipated demand for primary provision in that area. The timing of the acquisition and...