Results 2,181-2,200 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 169 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of applications for large scale capital funding from the schools to which he refers. The projects have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the proposed works will be considered on an ongoing basis...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 2007 the school in question received approval to build additional classrooms under the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS). The purpose of the PAS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake building works which will address the school's long term accommodation needs. Under the terms of the Scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality and extent of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 178, inclusive, together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of applications for large scale capital funding from the schools to which he refers. The projects have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the proposed works will be considered on an...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of therapy services is a matter for the Health Services Executive and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes. The Deputy may wish to raise the matter with my colleague the Minister for Health and Children or directly with the Health Service Executive.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on reductions in class size over the life of the Government. The Programme contains a commitment to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4000 and on that basis to make further progress on reducing class sizes. Budget 2008 provided my Department with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that written approval of the Stage 2(a) submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) issued to the design team on the project in question on 23rd April 2008. The Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) is due to be submitted to my Department on 18th August 2008. The application for Planning Permission issued to the Local Authority on 25 June 2008. The progression of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183 and 185 together. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in any given area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. This approach ensures that the use of existing accommodation is maximised and that the development and support of one school over others does not occur. As part of the Programme for...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Kilcock. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Celbridge and Maynooth. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Naas. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the construction phase of the project to deliver new classroom accommodation for the school in question is ongoing and that, in fact, the works commenced as far back as 31 March 2008. Initially, 10 new classrooms will be delivered in August 2008, ready for the 2008/2009 school year. The second phase will see the construction of a further 16-classroom...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statement. The following tabular statement gives details of the number of staff at the Department of Education & Science that have received or are in receipt of financial support for Post Graduate Educational courses from 2004 to 2008. 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 26 21 25 27 21

Written Answers — Medical Education: Medical Education (8 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 619 together. A programme of reform and expansion of undergraduate medical education and training commenced in 2006 following the acceptance by the Government of the report entitled "Medical Education in Ireland A New Direction" (the Fottrell Report) published jointly by the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science....

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (8 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Grangegorman Development Agency was established under Section 8 of the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005. The general aim of the Agency is to oversee the development of the lands at Grangegorman on behalf of the Departments of Education and Science, Health and Children, Dublin Institute of Technology and the Health Services Executive. The principal functions of the Agency is the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 664 together. The Deputy will be aware of the Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (8 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Ms. Deirdre McDonnell is currently assigned to the post of Policy Adviser and was assigned to this role on 30th May 2008. Ms. McDonnell is a Civil Servant on a salary of €101,468 per annum. The salary is in accordance with the Department of Finance Instructions relating to the Appointment of Ministerial Private Office Staff.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 4 staff working in my Department's Press Office, with 2 vacancies to be filled. The grades of these officers are as follows: 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers; 1 Clerical Officer. The vacancies are at Press Adviser and Higher Executive Officer level. The salaries paid to the officers are in accordance with the Department of Finance salary scales for the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 5.5 officers working in my Constituency Office, 2 of whom are non Civil Servants. The grades of these officers are as follows: 1 Higher Executive Officer;1 Staff Officer (0.5 WTE); 2 Clerical Officers; 1 Personal Assistant (Salary €53,688 pa — non Civil Servant) and 1 Personal Secretary (Salary €47,566 pa — non Civil Servant). This staffing level is within the...