Results 2,481-2,500 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises three plots of land with three separate vendors. Officials from my Department are in contact with key stakeholders with a view to exploring the options open to advancing the proposed acquisition. The progression of this project will be considered in the context of the capital...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is currently in the process of recruiting specialist behaviour advisors to form part of a Behavioural Specialist Support Team. Following a recent competition, the Special Education Support Service (SESS) is working to recruit a number of candidates. While this process is ongoing the person that will lead this team is working with the SESS in an advisory capacity and in...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1682, 1773 and 1855 together. The School Completion Programme encompasses both primary and post-primary levels and focuses on young people between the ages of 4 and 18 years and is designed to deal with issues of both concentrated and regionally dispersed disadvantage. SCP is a key component of DEIS ( Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools) the...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Free Fees Initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study. The main conditions are that students must be first-time undergraduates and hold E.U. nationality and have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1684 and 1697 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...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second-level, mainly in the case of language subjects, decisions on which textbooks to use in first and second-level schools are taken at school level. My Department does not have a role in recommending, endorsing or approving textbooks. Syllabus planners are conscious of the need to avoid over frequent changes, primarily in order to minimise...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: One member of my Department's Professional and Technical Staff attended the conference referred to by the Deputy at a total cost to the Department of €743.63. The Chief Executive Officer of the Grangegorman Development Agency was a speaker at one of the workshops and there was no cost incurred by the Agency.

Written Answers — Music Education: Music Education (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Among the recommendations contained in the Music Network report was that a series of Music Education Partnerships would be developed between the County/City Development Boards and the Vocational Education Committees on a phased basis. In 2004, my Department began funding a pilot programme in both Dublin City and in Donegal VECs to test approaches to delivery of the proposed model. Resources...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The formalities relating to the acquisition of the site in the location referred to by the Deputy are currently in train. I am not in a position to say when the matter will be concluded.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides an extensive range of supports to schools to enable them meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs, including those with a physical disability. Depending on the needs of the pupil(s), these supports may include additional resource teaching and/or care support; specialist equipment; assistive technology and special school transport arrangements. The Deputy...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the maintenance grants scheme grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment. The Nationality requirement as set out in the 2008 Grant schemes states that candidates must: hold E.U. Nationality; or have Official Refugee Status; or have been...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The protection of personal data is a fundamental and ongoing aspect of the work of my Department. My Department is committed to protecting personal data and takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the data it holds is protected. Data protection compliance is part of induction training for all new staff. In addition, 256 members of staff have completed records management training, which...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: 2007 — 2 laptop computers were stolen and 1 USB memory card was reported lost; 2008 — to date no laptop computers, data storage devices or USB memory sticks were lost or stolen.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project for the provision of a new 8-classroom building for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2b of the architectural planning process (detailed design). The current position is that planning permission for the new school has been granted by Drogheda Borough Council subject to a number of onerous conditions which the Department has appealed to An Bord Pleanála....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Generally, student grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree or equivalent) qualification and are pursuing a second such qualification. 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...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The need for a new school building for school in question is acknowledged by my Department. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment while the discussions are ongoing...