Results 2,721-2,740 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project in question has been sanctioned and my Department has contacted Co. Mayo VEC authorising them to progress the project. As the Deputy will be aware, from February 2008 all Capital Works Projects must use the new GCCC Forms of Construction Contracts for Public Works and, as a result, Co. Mayo VEC have been informed that the project at Davitt...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 283 together. I am currently considering a number of issues relating to the patronage of second-level schools and the matters raised by the Deputies will be considered in that context.

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: While comprehensive information on the use of temporary accommodation is held on individual school files, my Department does not have a central database of those schools that are currently fully accommodated in prefabricated accommodation. The Department examines all applications for additional accommodation on an individual basis to determine if the need exists in the first instance. My...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Universities Act, 1997, confers autonomous statutory responsibilities on universities in relation to the day to day management of their affairs. It is a matter for each university to manage their financial resources and to take the necessary steps to ensure that expenditure is kept within the approved budget. I understand from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which is the statutory...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Expenditure on tertiary educational institutions, including universities, from public sources amounted to 1.38% of GNP in 1998. In 2007 similar expenditure amounted to 1.25% of GNP. There have been substantial improvements in the funding of higher education in recent years. Overall provision to the third level sector (capital, recurrent, student grants etc) amounted to some €1.5 billion in...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. Higher-education institutions do not routinely provide information to my Department or the HEA on vacant places. At this time of year, the issue of vacant places is very fluid due to the efforts made by institutions and the CAO to fill such places. Annual returns to the HEA suggest that the overall number of vacant places is going down...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects, 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A stage 2A submission has been received by my Department and is currently being reviewed and evaluated. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers to has an application for a new school on a new site with the Department. A suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises of 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....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is 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 on the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the modernisation agenda for teachers under the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 it was agreed to address the issue of redeployment of surplus teachers. Discussions on the arrangements that would apply in the case of second level schools commenced under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council in March 2007. It was initially agreed that the discussions would...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The allocation of teaching resources to second level schools has operated on the basis of a well established allocation process based on transparent allocation rules, with an independent appellate process available to schools. In the interest of fairness and consistency for all schools it has been established practice that schools deal with Department officials and the Independent Appeals...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding for replacement of windows 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 of the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It has been my Department's practice in recent years to increase the reckonable income limits under the maintenance grant schemes in line with movements in the average industrial wage. The income limits for the academic year 2008/2009 for the standard rate of maintenance grant have been increased by 2.8% on the basis of the increase in the average industrial wage for the period September...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. The charge agreed with the department for the current academic year is €900. All students who are eligible for means tested student support have the student charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees, in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Higher Education Strategy: Higher Education Strategy (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the terms of reference and process to develop a new national strategy for higher education which will provide the vision and strategic direction for the future development of the higher education sector in contributing to Ireland's economic and social development in the 21st century. I would expect that the entire process to develop...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 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 Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs and for identifying appropriate educational settings for individual children with special educational needs. Officials in...

Written Answers — Schools of Music: Schools of Music (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Music Network has commissioned a consultancy in April 2008 to conduct an evaluation of the programmes. Methodologies include desk research, face-to-face meetings with key policy makers, consultation and focus group meetings with teachers, tutors, parents, students and service management. The research and evaluation is ongoing and near completion.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The website of the Government's climate change awareness campaign, www.change.ie, provides a carbon calculator which enables everyone to work out their own carbon footprint. Using this tool, my Department has estimated that the carbon emissions arising in the course of my ministerial functions amounted to 9.98 tonnes from my appointment as Minister to 30 September 2008. Of this .78 of a...