Results 2,461-2,480 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that Fingal County Council has reserved a site, in the region of 5 acres, for educational provision in the Hollywoodrath Local Area Plan. In general, the Department considers site acquisition in accordance as needs arise, taking into account the availability of capital resource and in the overall context of the Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is aware of the accommodation pressures being experienced by the schools in the Tyrrellstown area and is also cognisant of the ever-increasing demand for school places. To meet this need, my Department has provided significant additional capacity in rapidly developing areas this year, particularly the Dublin 15 area. The progression of further major capital project will be...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The acquisition of the site for the school referred to by the Deputy 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 indicative timeframe for the acquisition of the site at this time.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at 'Stage 1' (i.e. site report and preliminary sketch scheme) of the Architectural Planning Process. Planning permission will be lodged once the detailed design has been approved. I am not in a position to say at this stage when this will be done.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is aware of the accommodation pressures being experienced by the school to which the Deputy refers and is also cognisant of the ever-increasing demand for school places. The question of when this school can proceed to construction is being considered in the context of the overall school building programme. It is not possible at this stage to say when construction will commence.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, the Department intends to acquire sites in the Dublin 15 area for the purposes of providing additional school places. My Department is aware of a need for further post primary provision in the Dublin 15 area. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment on the details...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority subject to agreed procedures. All State funded teaching posts in primary and post primary schools must be filled by means of a public competition. In accordance with the terms of Circular Letters 82/2007 and 55/2008 all appointments to teaching posts for periods in excess of 26...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question is registered with my Department. However, it is not an officially recognised school and does not receive funding from my Department.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question has received sanction for an all-in grant for conversion works at the school to provide a mainstream classroom, in accordance with their application.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Enrolment decisions are the responsibility of the Board of Management of each individual school. 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. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information relevant to the Deputy's question is being compiled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that an application by the school referred to by the Deputy for grant-aid under the Parent Rooms Measure of the Dormant Accounts/Rapid Leverage Fund small-scale capital grant scheme for schools has been approved. My Department advised the school of the position by letter dated 18 June, 2008. The first instalment of 70% of the approved amount will be paid on commencement of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application for funding under the emergency works scheme from the school in question. A decision on the application will be made as soon as possible and the school authorities will be advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local authority or VEC, as appropriate. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in exceptional circumstances. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are two means by which former residents of institutions which were subject to State regulation or inspection can apply for and be awarded compensation — The Residential Institutions Redress Board and the Court system. The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established to make fair and reasonable payments to persons who, as children, were abused...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is in the process of completing a technical evaluation of a site which was identified for the school referred to in the article referenced by the Deputy. In order to complete the technical evaluation an independent valuation report is required. The independent valuation has recently been commissioned and a report is awaited. The acquisition will be considered in the context...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An ASD unit has been sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education for the school referred to by the Deputy. A Band 1 rating has been assigned to the project under the published prioritisation for large scale building projects. This is the highest Band rating possible, which reflects the urgency which the Department attaches to the project. The commencement and progression of...

Written Answers — Third Level Scholarship Schemes: Third Level Scholarship Schemes (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is proposed to carry out a review of the three existing third-level Irish scholarship schemes in the course of the current academic year to determine their continuing effectiveness in meeting their objectives. A range of issues will be considered in the context of this review, including those raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. In the circumstances, a meeting at this...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places....

Written Answers — Home Tuition: Home Tuition (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has liaised with the family in question in the context of the matter raised by him.