Results 1,701-1,720 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Receiver and Manager appointed to the project to which the Deputy refers has confirmed that he does not wish to complete the project. My officials are managing the situation and have been liaising with the Design Team, the Receiver, the Bondsman and the school authorities. It is the Department's intention to have this project back on site as soon as possible, in accordance with public...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides grant aid to the National Learning Network (NLN), previously known as Rehab, to facilitate the delivery of an education service to young adults with learning disabilities in a number of centres nationwide. This grant is administered by the NLN from its location in Roslyn Park College. The information requested by the Deputy, in respect of funding provided by my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is 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 is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The proposed building project will be considered in...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will arrange for officials in my office to provide the information to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 545 together. Officials from my Department recently met with representatives from Educate Together and there was a wide-ranging discussion about the issues surrounding Educate Together's application to become a patron at second level. My Department is currently considering a number of broad policy issues relating to the recognition process for...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department issued 10 press releases from 6 November, 2009 to date.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Nov 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. Overall primary and post-primary accommodation requirements in the area referred to by the Deputy will be considered in this regard....

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The table outlines the position regarding the provision of accredited learning-to-learn modules in publicly funded higher education institutions Summary of 3rd Level Institutes which provide Accredited Learning to Learn Modules Institution Learning to Learn Module Available? University College Cork Yes University College Dublin Yes National University of Ireland, Galway Yes National...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The leasing of office property is the responsibility of the Property Management Services, Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The terms of the leases are a matter for the OPW.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 553 together. The main area where expenditure under my Department's capital programme for 2009 is less than anticipated is on Primary and Post-Primary major capital projects. These projects comprise new schools and major extension and refurbishment projects. Any savings in 2009 relating to this is a deferred or delayed commitment. This commitment will...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows and has been supplied to the Department by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Students and parents should return all necessary supporting documentation as early as possible to assist the awarding bodies to make prompt decisions on entitlement. Name of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The process of assessing eligibility for third level grants and the organisation, management and payment of student grants are matters for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies seek to ensure students get decisions on their grant applications and are paid as soon as possible. The terms of the Higher Education Grants Scheme and the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 563 together. Details in relation to the amount of money spent on the rental of prefabricated buildings since 1990 at the school to which the Deputy refers is currently being compiled. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or guardians, dependent mature students or as independent mature students. An independent mature student is defined as a mature student who was not ordinarily resident with his or her parents from the October preceding entry to an approved course. When assessing the...

Written Answers — Median Class Size: Median Class Size (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Median class size is not used as a calculation in the Department. Individual class size for each school in the country is available on the Statistics area of the Department's website. (www.education.ie)

Written Answers — Median Class Size: Median Class Size (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice are...

Written Answers — Median Class Size: Median Class Size (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the school in question is currently being installed with a fixed line/DSL solution under the second phase of the School's Broadband Programme. The DSL solution has been installed and delivery of a Cisco router is required to complete the connection process. I understand that this router is scheduled to be delivered to the school later this week, and this...