Results 3,061-3,080 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2008)

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

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department will be providing a new greenfield site building for the school to which the Deputy refers. 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 — Gaelscoileanna: Gaelscoileanna (22 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá iarratas ar fhoirgneamh úr déanta ag an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta. Machnófar ar bhonn leanúnach dul chun cinn gach uile tionscadal tógála ar scála mór, an tionscadal seo ina measc, ón túschéim dearaidh go dtí tairisceana agus tógáil, i gcomhthéacs Chlár Tógala agus Athnuachain Scoile Ilbhliantúil mo Roinnse.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the young person in question will be finishing his schooling next June. As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. It is expected that special school authorities would consider post-school placement for school leavers in the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (22 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has now cleared for payment the outstanding amount due to the contractor in relation to the pedestrian crossing project at the school referred to the Deputy. It is expected therefore that this matter will be resolved very shortly.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 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. A tender report for the school building project referred to by the Deputy was previously received by my Department. As the Deputy will be aware however, from February 2008 all Capital Works Projects must use the new Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC) Forms of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has 2 permanent classrooms and 3 prefabs, one of which was grant aided for the 2008/09 school year. The school has not notified the Department of any other current needs.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have appointed two special advisers since I was appointed Minister for Education and Science, one a Civil Servant and the other a non-Civil Servant. The annual salaries paid to the two officers are €104,005 and €86,168 respectively. These two appointments and the salaries paid to the two officers are in accordance with the Department of Finance Instructions relating to the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The acquisition of the site will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. I am not in a position to say at this stage when the acquisition will be concluded.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (23 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. 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 addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee grant they are entitled to....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 265 together. As the Deputies will be aware, a significant number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special needs....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently one of a number of projects at an advanced stage of architectural planning. It was not, however, included in the most recent tranche of projects announced in September as, due to normal budgetary constraints and the need to manage the capital programme in an orderly fashion, not all building projects can proceed to tender and construction at...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The implementation of improvements in rates of pay and conditions of service for substitute teachers allied with the substantial increase in the numbers of teachers employed and the extension of absences covered by substitution has increased the cost significantly in recent years. The cost of substitution cover in primary schools in the past five years is as follows: 2003 — €26.3 million,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The scheme of substitution for Official School Business at post-primary level was introduced in conjunction with the Supervision / Substitution scheme in 2002. Further to the announcement in Budget 2009, substitution cover for official school business will be suspended from January 2009. Official school business relates to absences of post-primary teachers at sports events, seminars,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 272 together. Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced, over 3,000 projects, costing in excess of €300 million, have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 has been on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that there are currently 151 psychologists employed in my Department's NEPS service, including some 21 psychologists who have been appointed since the end of June last. Furthermore 7 individuals have agreed start dates with the service between now and early January 2009 and an additional 6 are currently considering offers of employment or undergoing the requisite...

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has provided continuing professional development (CPD) across a range of subjects and programmes at primary and post primary level in the period referred to. This has been delivered by subject specific support services and administered and delivered through the education centre network. Throughout this period support services have developed as their remit dictated from an...

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is not readily available at this point in time but will be made available to the Deputy in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The current very difficult budgetary position has made it necessary to critically examine all areas of public expenditure. As a consequence of current circumstances, it was found necessary to reduce the operating budget of my Department's Regional Office Service (ROS) for 2009 by 26%. The intention is to rationalise and prioritise some services and to seek efficiencies in the operation of the...