Results 17,281-17,300 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The issue raised by the Deputy will be considered by my Department in the context of existing and future programmes to tackle educational disadvantage. It is not possible at this stage to say if or when funding may become available for the project in question. Officials of my Department have been involved at various stages in the development of the initiative and these contacts will continue.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is currently funding 11 autism specific facilities, including CABAS Drogheda and Stepping Stones at Kilcloon. Some of these facilities provide an applied behavioural analysis model of response which involves the provision of tuition on a one-to-one basis for children on the autistic spectrum. In addition to the autism specific facilities outlined above, the Department also...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Sep 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 is being examined in the school planning section of my Department in the context of an overall review of primary and post-primary educational provision in the Waterford city area. I expect this review to...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has taken a decision that the costs involved in refurbishing the properties originally occupied by the school in question are excessive and, accordingly, it is not intended to pursue this option as a long-term accommodation solution for the school. This has been communicated to the trustees. In the circumstances, my Department is pursuing alternative accommodation solutions. A...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I will be bringing proposals to Government in the near future in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, on a wide range of issues associated with the delivery of medical education in Ireland. The development of a graduate entry stream to medical education is also being considered in this context. The University of Limerick's proposal is but one of a number of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has requested further information on the cases referred to by the Deputy from the transport liaison officer for County Clare. A decision in the case will be conveyed to the transport liaison officer as soon as all the relevant information has been received and assessed.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act was enacted in July 2004. On 14 July 2005, sections 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), 14(2) to 14(4), 19 to 37, 40 to 44, 50 to 53 and both Schedules to the Act were commenced. Separate establishment day orders were made in respect of the National Council for Special Education and the Special Education Appeals Board, setting their...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works a grant was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional accommodation. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control over the building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy is one of three post-primary schools serving the post-primary educational needs of the area. This school has made application to my Department for capital investment to upgrade and refurbish facilities at the school. As part of the assessment process all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, must be taken into consideration in order...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students. These are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarships scheme, and the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees. The higher education grants scheme is administered by the local authorities. The other two schemes are administered by the vocational education...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport is she or he resides 4.8 km or more from her or his local post-primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which she or he lives. In addition, an eligible pupil may be allowed the concession of transport, known as catchment boundary transport, to a centre other than...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy is 20 years old and as such is not entitled to school transport. While persons in his circumstances may be offered school transport on an incidental free basis where there is a spare place on a route, unfortunately there is no spare place on this bus. However, support may be available for him from the Health Service Executive.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is well aware, the president of Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, resigned from that position in April 2005. The matter relates to the employee-employer relationship between the head of the college and that person's employers, which, I understand, was subject to legal proceedings. In this regard, it is considered inappropriate for me to make any comment on the matter. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, has been asked to provide a report on the case referred to by the Deputy. When the report is received and considered, my Department will advise the Deputy of the position.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy originally applied for an extension and refurbishment to provide improved ancillary accommodation. The project proposed initially did not provide for any additional mainstream classrooms. In the process of assessment in accordance with the prioritisation criteria revised last year following consultation with the education partners, increasing enrolments...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the assessment of the school's application for additional accommodation, my officials have undertaken a detailed assessment of demographic trends, housing developments and enrolment trends in the area to ensure that any capital funding provided will deliver accommodation appropriate to the school's need into the future. This assessment has recently been completed and a decision...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has requested an up-to-date report from the transport liaison officer for County Cork regarding the situation outlined by the Deputy. As soon as the required information is received, a response will issue directly to the Deputy in the matter.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My officials have been in contact with my Department's inspectorate regarding the issue in question. I advise the Deputy that there are currently no Traveller pupils enrolled in this school and, therefore, the issue of additional teaching hours does not arise at this time.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, a new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools have been provided with resource teaching hours, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for children with high-incidence special needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs. The general allocation for the schools in question is 15 part-time hours in total. The schools'...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On the basis of the information available to my officials it is my understanding that this matter has now been resolved in that the teacher referred to by the Deputy has taken up a teaching position in another school in the Donegal area.