Results 2,501-2,520 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Further to my response of 9 July, 2008, I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has completed the process of decentralising all sections due to relocate to Athlone.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an advanced stage. A tender report for the project is currently under examination by my Department. The contract for the project has not yet been awarded. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The make up and timing of further school bundles in my Department's PPP school building programme will be determined by my Department in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). The issues to be considered in the timing and bundling of these schools include site availability for each school, geographical spread and the estimated total cost of the proposed school...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the multi-annual school building programme, the Government has invested heavily in the modernisation of school facilities throughout the country including science facilities in post-primary schools. Provision of science facilities is an intrinsic part of all major projects at post-primary level. Typically this investment involves the provision of modern science facilities in new...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The data in relation to class size which the Deputy requested is included in tabular form. Average Class Size by County 2007/2008 County Average Class Size CARLOW 25.5 CAVAN 23.7 CLARE 23.4 CORK CITY 22.6 CORK COUNTY 24.7 DONEGAL 22.9 DUBLIN CITY 22.6 DUN LAOGHAIRE/RATHDOWN 25.2 FINGAL 26.3 GALWAY CITY 22.9 GALWAY COUNTY 21.9 KERRY 23.2 KILDARE 26.3 KILKENNY 24.7 LAOIS 24.3...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1713, 1840 and 1854 together. The Department has received a Tender Report for the project. Progress on individual projects, including this one, will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. I am not in a position to say at this stage when construction is likely to commence on the project in question. My...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently 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 phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands...

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 early 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, in...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 56 applications submitted by primary schools and 15 for post primary schools for major capital works in Kildare. In the last three years 31 extension projects and six new schools have been completed at primary level while at post primary level eight extension projects have been completed over the same period in Co. Kildare.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 414 Special Needs Assistants (whole-time equivalents) employed in schools in County Kildare. Three hundred and fifty four are serving in Primary schools and sixty in Post Primary schools. The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I recently published the ICT Strategy Group Report, Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools 2008-2013, together with the evaluation report undertaken by my Department's Inspectorate, ICT in Schools, which represents the first major study of the impact that ICT is having on teaching and learning in our schools. While acknowledging the progress made since the ICT in Schools Programme was first...

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 — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is open to the Board of Management of a primary school to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria and application dates for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, (Circular 0010/2008) which is available on my Department's...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1723, 1762, 1841 and 1844 together. The project to which the Deputies refer is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of the project to construction will be considered the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1724 and 1744 together.The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputies refer 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...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. 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...

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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Official Languages Act, 2003 was signed into law on 14th July 2003. Section 9(1) of the Act refers to the duty on public bodies to ensure that either Irish or Irish and English languages are used on oral advertisements, on stationery, on signage and on advertisements. However while Section 9(1) of the 2003 Act has not yet been signed into law, in the context of my Department's role in...