Results 19,481-19,500 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that since my reply to Question No. 497 of 15 February 2005, my Department received an application from the school to which he refers for additional temporary and permanent accommodation. This application is being assessed in the school planning section of my Department and contact will be made directly with the school authority when a decision has been taken in...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the newspaper article referred to by the person in County Waterford. I can find nothing in the article which disagrees with the reply I made previously in which I said that "the experience of learning any second language is hugely beneficial to students in that it develops their awareness of how languages work and builds confidence in their own ability to learn other languages"....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. Seventy one special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and...

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

Mary Hanafin: In the light of the reality that pupils in the high incidence disability categories of mild and borderline mild general learning disability and dyslexia are distributed throughout the education system, my Department, in consultation with educational interests, developed a general model of resource teacher allocation to schools to support students in these disability categories. This model,...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are currently 82 projects participating in the school completion programme in 21 counties, comprising of 300 primary and 112 post primary schools. Any decision to include further schools in the school completion programme is being considered by my Department in the context of the overall review of disadvantage programmes which is nearing completion. Arising from the review process, a...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the list of successful applicants under the summer works scheme was published on Monday, 7 March 2005.

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

Mary Hanafin: All applications for temporary accommodation have been considered in the school planning section of my Department. In the context of the available funding and the number of applications for that funding, it was not possible to approve all applications received and only those with an absolute and demonstrated need for additional accommodation were approved. The application for a resource room...

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

Mary Hanafin: An extension project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project is being considered in the context of the school buildings and modernisation programme. The school authority recently applied for temporary accommodation to meet its mainstream accommodation needs for September next. The application has been...

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

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project is being considered in the context of the school buildings and modernisation programme. Detailed examination of a feasibility study regarding the options for provision of the required level of accommodation is under way to determine the best way forward....

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

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy made an application to my Department for the provision of two temporary classrooms from September 2005. Approval has now been given to the school authority to provide the two temporary classrooms required. I understand that this will facilitate the general purposes room reverting to its original usage at the school in question.

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

Mary Hanafin: The carryover of €50 million from 2004 to 2005 on school buildings was not due to any reduction or cutback in planned activity. The reason was that some payments on projects that were approved to go to tender and construction, did not incur payment in 2004 as originally envisaged. A record level of new school projects was commissioned in 2004 and payments expected to fall due before the end...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is pursuing the development of two schools to serve the emerging needs of the Leopardstown-Stepaside area. A site has recently been acquired to provide a new 16 classroom facility for Gaelscoil Taobh na Coille. This project is included in the list of recently announced projects which will commence architectural planning with immediate...

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

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that an application has been received for a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers. Various options for the long-term accommodation needs of this school are being considered in the school planning section of my Department, including the possibility of acquiring a new greenfield site. A decision in the matter will be taken as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the Office for Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department on site acquisitions generally, has identified a site, which could provide for the long-term accommodation requirements of the school in question, and is now awaiting receipt of draft contracts. My Department is also looking at another option which could offer a better value for money...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for permanent recognition from the school to which the Deputy refers is under consideration in the school planning section of my Department. As part of the examination, factors such as the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments and suitability of accommodation is being considered. A decision on the school's application will be made as soon as...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The college referred to by the Deputy is a statutory body established under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992. Under that Act, the governance and day-to-day activities of the institute are matters for which the governing body and the management staff of the institute are responsible. All college faculties retain and make available examination results to all registered students....

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Youth work training providers in the Republic of Ireland have, up to now, sought professional endorsement from education and training standards committees, ETS, in England and Wales. The National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 proposes as a priority action that a youth work validation body, now termed endorsement panel, should be established with the purpose of developing a...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Legislation regarding the fitting and wearing of seat belts in public vehicles is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport. Under existing regulations seatbelts are not compulsory on buses used for school transport. In operating the school transport scheme, Bus Éireann is fully compliant with all relevant regulations as laid down by the Department of Transport. Irrespective of the...

Written Answers — School Amalgamations: School Amalgamations (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Given the dramatic drop in enrolments at Ringsend Technical Institute, from 501 students in 1995-6 to 166 in 2004-5, and its proximity to the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department is of the view that the amalgamation of the two schools into a single school development would best serve the needs of both school communities into the future. An amalgamated school would also be well...

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Youthreach programme is designed for young persons aged between 15 and 20 years who have left school early with minimal or no qualifications. Youthreach is delivered in out-of-school settings, often in rented premises. Pay and non-pay grants, including rent supplements where necessary, are provided by my Department to VECs to meet the running costs of the programme. On 18 January 2005,...