John Gormley

702. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of physiotherapists qualifying here in 2005 and 2006 who are employed in the Irish health service; the number of vacancies for newly qualified physiotherapists in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29000/06]

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 85. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason she has refused to supply information requested in parliamentary questions in relation to building grants for schools in Dublin south east; her views on whether this impedes an opposition politician’s ability to properly represent their constituents for whom this is a crucial matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23154/06]
   Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin): The Deputy is aware that the extensive information sought by him in relation to a large number of schools was not readily available within my Department when he sought it originally. However, information in relation to building grants for the schools concerned has since been collated and has now been sent to the Deputy.

 361. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures she is taking to stop parents taking their children out of school in term time due to the fact that holidays are cheaper; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the British Government has started a campaign to deal with the problem; the extent of the problem here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21642/06] (more…)

68. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which he made €1.5 million available to the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. [18712/04]
 
   Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy): I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 68 together.
  Over the past two years a total of €1.5 million was made available to college for the purpose of renovating its college chapel.
  The president of the college made a detailed presentation on the merits of the project during a discussion with me.  My decision to recommend to the Dáil in the Estimates that funding should be made available arose from that encounter.  There were no civil servants present during the discussion. 
  Budget Statements by Ministers for Finance have regularly included announcements of relatively small additions to expenditure to support particular groups or projects.  They are usually of a once-off or time-limited nature.  The funds for the college’s project were not provided in the budget but in the revised Estimates volumes for 2003 and 2004. 
  There are a number of recent precedents for payments of this type.  For example, the Christchurch Cathedral in Waterford, St. Isidore’s College in Rome and the Irish College in Paris.
  The work on the chapel involved the renewal and repair of elements of the external roof fabric, stone parapets, rainwater goods and pointing of external stonework plus an additional rainwater drainage run for the south side cloister roof.  The Office of Public Works examined the schedule of works and found it satisfactory.  It confirmed that the price was competitive and that it represented value for money.  It also confirmed that the firm that successfully tendered to carry out the work had a current C2 certificate and all of the necessary insurance.

68. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the response he has made to the serious concerns raised in writing to him on 3 March 2004 by the principals of ten second level schools in Dun Laoghaire regarding the difficulties faced by the 30 leaving certificate students transferred to Kilmallock House from the Old School House in Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12731/04] (more…)

249. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will sanction the new secondary school building for Muckross Park College in Donnybrook, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2486/04]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey): The large-scale building project for Muckross Park College, Donnybrook, Dublin is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme, which is published on my Department’s website at www.education.ie. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, namely, pre-tender stage. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.
The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable me to adopt a multi-annual framework for the school building programme, which in turn will give greater clarity regarding projects that are not progressing in this year’s programme. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

360. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there was no lead-in time on the decision to stop the back to education allowance during the summer months; her views on the fact that many students had made plans on the basis of acquiring this allowance; if she will consider reversing this decision, in view of information coming to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19253/03] (more…)

287. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to allow the Dominican College, Muckross Park, Donnybrook, to replace its present building with a new building; his views on whether this non-fee paying school cannot meet the needs of the current curriculum with the present building; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school also has difficulty in satisfying fire safety requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18500/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey): The 2003 capital programme has been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department’s website at www.education.ie. The building project at Muckross Park College is listed under Section 6 of the capital programme and is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - pre-tender stage. The timing as to when this project can progress to tender and construction is dependant on the funding allocation in 2004 and subsequent years.
With regard to fire safety requirements, in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in
place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place. Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.