Results 2,961-2,980 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Operational responsibility for the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations, including the collection of fees, is a matter for the State Examinations Commission. The amount of fees collected for each of the examination years 2002 to 2008 is as follows; Year â'¬ 2002 6,732,834.12 2003 6,848,749.23 2004 7,396,293.06 2005 8,084,004.95 2006 7,962,013.83 2007 8,117,638.38 2008...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since January 2007, all new construction consultancy appointments have been on a competitive fee basis using the new Government Conditions of Engagement. The level of fees will, therefore, vary from project to project. With regard to construction contracts, my Department has also implemented fixed price tendering in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines on Construction...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I recently received a letter from the President of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland on the issue of architectural fees for school buildings. I have issued a reply to this letter. In my reply, I noted the need to ensure better value for money in the procurement and construction of schools. At all times, but in particular in the current economic circumstances, value for money...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently announced a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools under the Commission on School Accommodation. I intend to establish a Technical Working Group under the Commission to undertake a full review of the criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools. This working group will begin work in the coming...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides for a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment for the use of students in second-level schools who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and/or communicative disabilities of a degree which makes ordinary communication through speech and/or writing impossible for them. The purpose of the grant-aid is to provide the students in question with equipment...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Oct 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 — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Grangegorman site is currently in the ownership of the Health Service Executive and any costs associated with the maintenance of buildings on the site is therefore a matter for the HSE. As the Deputy is aware the Grangegorman Development Agency was established under Section 8 of the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005. The general aim of the Agency is to oversee the development of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project for the schools referred to by the Deputy has advanced to the stage that the school authorities have agreed the Schedules of Accommodation for two 24 classroom schools. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: County Dublin VEC has operated a Psychological Support Service since 1992. I understand that a number of psychologists have left positions with this Psychological Support Service to take up posts with the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). My Department has been informed by the VEC that there are currently three vacancies within County Dublin VEC's Psychological Support...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: County Dublin Vocational Education Committee has responsibility for operational matters relating to the psychological services to which the Deputy refers. In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the Chief Executive Officer of Co Dublin VEC for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 29 September, I announced that the project in question could proceed. My Department has contacted the school 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, the school have been informed that...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department funds and provides a range of supports to address the eradication of bullying in schools. Disaggregating all costs related to bullying across these measures that are sometimes part of an integrated policy, is not fully possible. Each school is required to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The syllabus for the Leaving Certificate Technical Drawing was revised by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The name of the subject was changed to Design and Communications Graphics and the new subject was introduced in September 2007, into a number of selected Post-Primary schools, for examination for the first time by the State Exams Commission (SEC) in June 2009....

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Physical education is part of the primary curriculum and is taught by primary teachers in schools throughout the country. My Department has no plans to introduce additional resources in primary schools such as those referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for 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...

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level (mainly in the case of language subjects) school textbooks are not approved or prescribed by my Department at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. The publication and sale of school books are in the hands of independent commercial enterprises and it is not open to me to compel publishing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is providing broadband connectivity to recognised primary and post-primary schools under the Schools Broadband Access Programme. This programme is being undertaken in partnership with industry in the context of a Government — IBEC/TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) Agreement to provide local broadband connectivity to schools. The Programme has three elements —...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together. In relation to Co. Mayo, referral agencies, schools and parents of pre-school children with visual impairment currently are being informed by Visiting Teacher management of an interim telephone advisory service that is now being provided while alternative arrangements for a Visiting Teacher presence in Co. Mayo are...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (16 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department was made aware of proposals to establish a new Gaelscoil to serve Tyrellstown/Hollystown in August 2008. A formal 'Notification of Intent' to establish this new school was received from the proposed Patron, An Foras Patrunachta in September 2008. However, as the Deputy will be aware, I announced a review of the procedures for recognising primary schools on 14th September...