Results 2,601-2,620 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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 at this stage to say when this will be done.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Small Schools Scheme, a grant of €380,000 was allocated in 2007 to Loughill National School to enable the Board of Management to extend and modernise their school. The Small Schools Scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs, rather the terms of the Scheme require the schools to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1842 and 1845 together. The acquisition of the site for the school 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 school site at this time.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, 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 budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The scope for any increases in the capitation grant for this or any other school has to be considered in the context of Government budgetary policy and the overall economic climate. My Department is aware of the funding pressures on schools. However, progress has been made in recent years that has seen the primary school capitation grant increased from €81.26 per pupil in 2000 to its...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has in the past sought a consideration where a school building on religious or other Patron lands closes. If equipment was supplied by the Department, then it remains Department property to be used as the Department determines. However if the equipment is supplied by local fundraising then the Board of Management should determine what to do.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding for roof works to the school building under the emergency works scheme. Generally 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. The application from the school was assessed in my Department, however, in light...

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 of...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications for extensions have been received from the two schools referred to by the Deputy. The application for the boys school has been assessed and the next step will be to appoint a Design Team for the project. My Department is in receipt of an application for an extension to the girls' school. This has not been fully assessed at this stage. The commencement and progression of all...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Data for the current school year, 2008/09, is not available as the Annual Primary School Census has yet to take place. In the school year 2007/2008, of 6,561 primary school pupils in County Monaghan, 1,276 were taught in classes of 30 or more. The mainstream staffing schedule allocates teachers within enrolment bands and the current bands are based on an average of 27 pupils. While the...

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: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual primary school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school concerned. It is the policy of my Department that unqualified personnel should only be employed in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel have been exhausted. Unqualified personnel should therefore only...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that my Department makes no distinction between the recommendations included in an educational psychological assessment raised by a private psychologist or one employed by the National Educational Psychological Service. Where such recommendations relate to the allocation of additional resources for a child with special needs the process is bound within my Department's...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. 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 — Millennium Partnership Scheme: Millennium Partnership Scheme (24 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The objective of the Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantaged students is to support students from disadvantaged areas with regard to retention and participation in further or higher education courses. Partnership Companies and Community Groups manage the fund at a local level. The student referred to by the Deputy may contact the Blanchardstown Area Partnership on 01 8209550 which is...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department wrote to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in 1982 in relation to the practice referred to by the Deputy confirming that it should be discontinued. Following a claim on behalf of affected staff the Labour Court subsequently issued a recommendation stating that existing arrangements for staff should continue however the fee remission scheme should not apply to staff recruited...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the facility referred to by the Deputy is not a recognised State school and is therefore not funded by my Department. The Deputy may wish to make contact with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the matter raised by her.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Permanent Accommodation Scheme was introduced in 2003 to reduce the need for prefabs. It was designed to give value for money in terms of providing permanent accommodation in place of prefabs, where an accommodation need was likely to exist for a considerable length of time. Since its introduction, over €100m has been allocated to schools under the scheme and it has resulted in the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and the temporary accommodation approved for the school is required to facilitate the progression of the building project. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, construction of a new 16 classroom school for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently underway. My Department has not received any application for funding for the additional works referred to by the Deputy. However, I will arrange for an official from my Department's Building Unit to contact the school in relation to the request for additional works.