Results 2,541-2,560 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and in view of other competing priorities in the capital area, it is not possible to allocate staffing resources to the compilation of the information at this stage. My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance on the provision of PE Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (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 of...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question submitted an application to my Department for emergency funding. Emergency works grants are made available to schools most in need of resources as a result of unforeseen emergencies of a capital nature that may arise during the school year. Following assessment of the application from this school and in light of the large number of projects seeking funding from my...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, is available on third-level tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved higher education institutions including certain approved undergraduate courses in E.U. member states and approved postgraduate courses in E.U. member states and in non-E.U. countries. In the context of the recent social partnership discussions the Government has...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. NEPS does not keep waiting lists for assessments of children but in common with other...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has recently processed the request for funding for the temporary accommodation at the school referred to by the Deputy. The funding is now in the school's accounts.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed new building in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy has advanced to the stage that the Department has acquired the site for the new school and agreed the Schedule of Accommodation with the school authorities. In addition the process of appointing the design team for this project has commenced in that the Department published the advertisement seeking qualified...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The acquisition of the site referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed in my Department. It is not possible to say at this stage when the matter will be concluded.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The statistical data requested by the Deputy is contained in the following document. These figures refer to all candidates who entered for Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate in each of the years 2004 to 2008. The Leaving Certificate figures include school based candidates, external candidates and repeat candidates. The Junior Certificate figures include school based candidates and...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the design process. 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 on the capital...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is aware of the cost pressures involved in setting up new schools. However, any improvements in the start-up funding can only be considered in the context of the overall economic and budgetary position and the competing priorities for available resources. In order to alleviate some of the pressures on new schools my Department facilitates them with early payment of capitation...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Educate Together is not recognised as a patron for post-primary schools. My Department is currently considering a number of issues relating to the recognition process for second-level schools and the matter raised by the Deputy will be examined in that context.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has provided significant additional capacity at primary level in the Lucan area with the opening in September, 2008 of the new 8 classroom primary school in Clonburris. The long term plan for this school is the provision of a 16 classroom school and appropriate ancillary space as per Department guidelines. Based on current demographic trends, my Department anticipates that...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy on the extent of the school's catchment area. The need for a site for the school in question has been determined. A suitable site will be sourced in the wider Lucan area taking cognisance of the school's catchment area and the needs in Lucan generally. The acquisition of the site for the school will be...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) was asked to source a site for the school to which the Deputy refers. The further progression of the site acquisition for the school will have to be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. In light of the many competing demands on the capital budget of my...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates, which is ongoing, and which has recently been fast-tracked by the Government, is carried out on a strictly confidential basis. As such it would not be appropriate for me to comment specifically on this matter in advance of the formal announcements involved.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1774 to 1776, inclusive, together. The issue of the re-introduction of third level fees should be viewed in the context of a wider debate on the funding of higher education. As the Deputy will be aware, I have indicated my intention to produce a new strategy for higher education that will provide a vision and strategic direction for the future development of...

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

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 (SENOs), 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 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A tender report for the project referred to by the Deputy was submitted to 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 will be considered on an on-going basis in the 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: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of the design process. 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 on the capital...