Results 19,661-19,680 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for additional accommodation has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners. Progress on this project is being considered in the context of the school building programme. In this regard, the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the review of special needs assistant, SNA, provision in primary schools. The review commenced in September 2004 and is continuing. The review is concerned with the level and deployment of SNA posts in mainstream classes. The intention is to ensure that the level of approved SNA support in schools, and the manner in which that support is being...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The pupil in question is currently in receipt of 2.5 hours resource teaching support. My Department has received an application to increase this support to five hours per week. In addition, the school has made an application for 15 hours per week special needs assistant, SNA, support for the pupil. My Department advised the school on 9 November 2004 that the pupil's special education needs,...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a suitable site for the school in question has been identified. Acquisition of the site is at an advanced conveyancing stage. The school referred to by the Deputy has not requested additional accommodation, however, a new school in this area is expected to commence operation next September and the planning section of my Department is currently liaising...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and includes the provision of a physical education hall. I recently announced details of 122 major school building projects that will progress to tender and construction phase over the next 12 to 15 months under the €3.4 billion multi-annual funding secured for the years 2005-09. I...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The higher education grants schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. Under the higher education grants scheme an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. An approved institution is defined...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that County Kildare VEC has not been in a position to hold the first meeting of its newly re-constituted committee. I understand that the reason for the delay is due to the finalising of the appointment process by the local authorities of four members from among nominated representatives of community, voluntary and other interests as set out in the Vocational Education (Amendment)...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: To expedite the appointment of a principal to oversee the commencement of the new Ballymun comprehensive school, it is essential that a board of management is appointed immediately. This board must be constituted in accordance with the existing model which does not, at this point in time, allow for parent or teacher representation. This board, however, will be replaced by a board that will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that tenders in excess of €9 million have been accepted for a major refurbishment and extension programme at Ballymun comprehensive schools to enable the planned amalgamation take place. The contractor went on site on 24 January last and I am confident that the amalgamation will proceed, as intended, on 1 September 2005.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On the basis of the information supplied by Bus Éireann in its report of 10 November 2003, only two families are eligible for transport to the school referred to in the details supplied. These families have a pick-up point 0.3 and 0.8 miles from their homes. This is considered to be a reasonable level of service in the context of the general operation of the scheme. The seven children of the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Having confirmed the identities of the pupils in question with the Deputy's office, I wish to confirm that my Department considered applications for resource teaching support for both pupils. The school was advised on 4 February 2005 that the pupils do not qualify for resource teaching support as the applications did not meet the criteria for such support. The school currently has the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Personal assistants are utilised within third level colleges for certain classes of students with disabilities, mainly those with physical or mobility difficulties. The main source of funding for personal assistants is the fund for students with disabilities. Colleges of further and higher education can apply on behalf of students who require a personal assistant in order to participate...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I anticipated there would be a good debate on the OECD report. I thank the Senators for their contributions. It is useful to hear from people with first-hand experience in the third level sector as students, lecturers or so forth. It affects us all. It is evident that people have spoken from regional perspectives as well as with regard to issues of access. Much of the debate resolves around...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Gabhaim buíochas le Ceannaire an Tí as ucht an chuiridh theacht anseo chun labhairt ar an tuarascáil fíor-thábhactach seo faoi thodhchaí oideachais ag an triú leibhéal dóibh siúd a bheidh ag freastal ag na hollscoileanna agus ag na hinstitiúdaí. It is an important time to discuss the OECD examiner's report. I know several Members will have a particular interest in the...

Road Network. (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen. The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authority concerned which, in the case of the Dublin Port tunnel, is Dublin City Council. The Minister for Transport announced on 21 October 2004 that the operational...

School Closures. (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this issue. He is quite correct that the closure of a school has an effect not just on the staff and students in the school but on the community, particularly a school as distinguished as Greendale community school which, as the Deputy pointed out, has served the area very well from the time it was built to a peak of more than 900 pupils. The Deputy...

School Closures. (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: She also happens to be the Minister for Education and Science. The school made an application to the Department of Education and Science for major capital investment in 1999 and the study commissioned by the Department estimated that an investment of €2.5 million would be needed for the remedial works. The general decline in enrolments in the area has resulted in spare capacity in the area...

Nuclear Safety. (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Sargent for allowing me to take this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I understand the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, British Nuclear Fuels plc and Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited today published details of the nuclear materials balance arising from the use of plutonium and-or uranium in their civil nuclear programmes...

Nuclear Safety. (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The UK has emphasised that nuclear materials are protected at all times and levels of security at nuclear sites are very high. All sites are required to comply with a security plan approved by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security and the measures taken exceed international requirements in this area. The Minister, Deputy Roche, has asked the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An overall review of educational disadvantage programmes is currently being finalised by my Department. The purpose of this review is to build on what has been achieved to date, adopt a more systematic, targeted and integrated approach and strengthen the capacity of the system to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged children and young people. The future position in regard to...