Results 6,221-6,240 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Mr Seán Cromien commenced his review of the operations, systems and staffing needs of my Department in mid May 2000 and delivered his report in October 2000. In June 2001, the then Minister for Education and Science, Dr Michael Woods. T.D., announced that the Government had approved a programme of structural reform of the Department arising from some of the recommendations in Mr Cromien's...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is advised that the Health Service Executive has formally conveyed its approval to dispose of a site referred to by the Deputy. The acquisition of the site will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. In light of many competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy on the extent of the school's catchment area. The need for a site for the school in question has been determined. A suitable site will be sourced in the wider Lucan area taking cognisance of the school's catchment area and the needs in Lucan generally. The acquisition of the site for the school will be...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in negotiation with County Dublin Vocational Education Committee regarding the provision of a site for the school in question. The acquisition of the site will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. I am not in a position to say at this stage when the acquisition will be concluded.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has asked South Dublin County Council to identify a site for this proposed development. The Department is continuing to engage with the Local Authority in relation to this matter and in this regard will be in contact shortly with South Dublin County Council with a view to arranging technical assessment of proposed sites. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has no immediate plans to acquire the land in question. The acquisition of the site, if required, will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that an application has been received for a PE Hall at the school to which the Deputy refers. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which reflects the type of works required and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which reflects the type of works required and the urgency attaching...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Athlone town has been identified as an area of rapid development. In this regard, a decision has already been taken to replace and expand the existing Athlone Community College. The new building, when complete, will cater for 1,000 pupils. The project referred to by the Deputy has advanced to the point where the Schedule of Accommodation has been drawn up and is currently being finalised...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. I understand from enquires made by officials of my Department that the NEWB is providing assistance to the mother of the child concerned in respect of this matter. Enrolment decisions are the responsibility of the Board of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: To date, 88 posts have decentralised from my Department to Athlone and a further seven posts have decentralised to Mullingar. 12 posts have decentralised with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to Portlaoise in advance of their move to Portarlington. These moves have taken place since December 2006.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, construction of a new 16 classroom school for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently underway. My Department has not received any application for funding for the additional works referred to by the Deputy. However, I will arrange for an official from my Department's Building Unit to contact the school in relation to the request for additional works.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The allocation of funding in respect of the Small Schools Scheme referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of the overall 2009 school building programme which is currently subject to the normal estimates process.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I consider that in the case of primary school teacher training it is essential that participants applying for the post graduate course meet the required criteria, as currently set down, which are common to all Colleges of Education that provide teacher training, and which include an honours level primary degree (a degree at Level 8 on the National Qualifications Framework) and a minimum of a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The priority rating of each individual building project is established in accordance with the Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects (Primary and Post-primary) which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. In accordance with the criteria set down, each project is allocated to an appropriate priority band rating on the basis of objective criteria. A review of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. More detailed...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for works under the 2008 Summer Works Scheme. Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However,...