Results 1,481-1,500 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Teaching Inspections: Teaching Inspections (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Higher Education Qualifications: Higher Education Qualifications (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of reports of an increase in the number of first class honours degrees awarded in Irish higher education institutions and the HEA has confirmed that the proportion of students graduating with first class honours degrees has increased in recent years. However, I am not aware of any direct evidence to suggest that the number of such awards is too high or is unjustified. Universities...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works are now available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. Details of the dates when applications from schools in Co. Offaly were received are in the attached table. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: From September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance for all schemes and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing a PLC course will no longer be eligible for student support grants. The cost of the student service charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met by the Exchequer on their behalf. Students...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Representatives from the school and the design team attended a stage 2(b) briefing which was held in my Department's office in Tullamore on 12 November. Thereafter, a letter issued to the school authorising the design team to prepare and submit stage 2b documentation (detailed design/tender documents)....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. NEPS in common with other psychological services encourages a staged assessment process...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring schools. If the teacher is not required on a given day to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is attached and has been supplied to my Department by County Cork Vocational Education Committee. My Department acknowledges that some students are experiencing delays in the processing of their grant applications. It is understood that both local authorities and VECs, the awarding bodies for student grants, received an unprecedented number of student...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not been contacted by the Embassy concerned in relation to the establishment of the proposed school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a detailed analysis of the entire country, including the counties referred to by the Deputy, to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision over the coming years. This study indicated that the requirement for additional primary provision in years...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to student grants awarded, including renewals, and new applications is attached and has been supplied to my Department by the local authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Local Authority New Applications Received 2009/10 as at 26/11/2009 Carlow 188 Cavan 329 Clare 603 Cork City 553 Cork Co 1431 Donegal 655 ...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 350 together. The Deputies will be aware that the Renewed Programme for Government provides for funding to be made available to allow schools to provide grant assistance for books. I am pleased to inform the Deputies that €7.65m of additional grant support has been made available as a result of the Budget for 2010, which is in addition to the €7m...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 337, inclusive, together. As I have indicated previously to the House, I am currently in the process of reviewing my Department's school building and modernisation programme with my officials in the context of the Estimates for 2010. This will take into account contractual commitments which will be carried into 2010 from this year's programme. The...