Results 1,581-1,600 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible. I can confirm to the Deputy that there are no regulators under the control of my Department.

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that €22 million in ICT grants was issued to primary schools at the end of November, with the priority on ensuring that there is a teaching computer and digital projector in every classroom. Purchase of this ICT equipment will be under public procurement operations carried out by the schools. The purchase of ICT equipment and associated products and services by the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The Bill makes provision for the transfer of responsibility for student grants to the VEC sector. In the existing budgetary situation, resources are not...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Capitation grants to primary schools are paid in two instalments. The first instalment is based on 70% of the grant due from enrolment figures for the previous school year. This payment is made in January. The second instalment is the balance due to the schools based on enrolment in the current school year. This payment is made in June. In the case of Post-Primary schools capitation...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since the beginning of the year the Government has launched a number of new initiatives to support unemployed people return to education and engage in upskilling. In the higher education sector this includes the provision of 2,500 places to enable unemployed people to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses on a part-time basis. All 2,500 places are on courses that support the goals of...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In October of this year I announced the provision of €4.2 million in grants for high-tech equipment as part of the Government's continuing efforts to make technology an integral part of the learning process. Schools where major construction work was completed this year and last year will each get €5,000 per classroom to buy computer hardware, software and digital equipment. The...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A reply has issued to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy by the Higher Education - Equity Of Access Unit of my Department.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (9 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 — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials visited the location in question recently. The information sought by the Deputy will be forwarded to him in the coming days.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office as follows: 2 Special Advisors, one of whom has responsibility for press and communications; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers; 3 Clerical Officers. Their total annual salaries in 2009 are approximately €445,766 and their expenses to date in 2009 are €17,276. There are currently 4.8 officers in my Constituency Office...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The closing date for the receipt of applications under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 was 27 November 2009. Following an assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme. In keeping with the timetable published with the governing Circular letter, I...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 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 — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department recently advertised for sites in the area in relation to the school in question and a number of applications were received. These are currently under consideration in my Department and due to the commercial sensitivity attached to site acquisitions, I cannot comment further at this stage. Upon acquisition of a suitable site, the proposed building project for the school will be...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware the Office of Public Works (OPW) had been requested to acquire a site for the school in question subject to planning permission. A site has been identified and my Department has recently assumed responsibility for the completion of the acquisition from the OPW. The acquisition is at contract stage and due to the commercial sensitivity attaching to site...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a large scale extension project. The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works,...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 to 240, inclusive, together. The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The income limit to qualify for the full standard rate maintenance grant and payment of the student services charge where there are fewer than four dependent children was increased from €39,760 to €41,110 for the academic year 2009/2010. The income threshold for the Special Rate of maintenance grant was also increased in line with the relevant social welfare comparators from €20,147 to...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware the student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. The range of student services in question may include such facilities as on-campus medical and counselling facilities for students, access and disability services, careers office services, student facilities, student clubs and...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government's Implementation Plan in response to the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, which was published on 28th July 2009, set out the Government's commitment to erect a memorial to victims of abuse in institutions in line with the recommendations of the Commission's Report. I announced the membership of the committee that will oversee the erection of the memorial on...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 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...