Results 3,301-3,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 113 together. I wish to re-emphasise that there are no changes proposed in respect of the Protestant block grant. Protestant fee-charging schools receive and will continue to receive the Protestant block grant, which in the current school year amounts to €6.25 million. This payment covers capitation, tuition and boarding grants. The grant is...

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It was with no great relish that the grant was taken away. I appreciate that it will cause difficulties for some Protestant schools. I realise there are 21 Protestant fee-paying schools and I also realise that the existing block grant is quite substantial. A capitation grant of €39.36 is paid to 94% of pupils. A tuition grant of €274 per pupil is paid to 94% of pupils. The tuition...

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Hayes asked me if I would meet the Protestant bishops. I have agreed to meet with them and a date has been arranged for a meeting. I hope it will take place within the next two weeks. I wish to clarify a matter which I think is important. The free education scheme was introduced in 1967 to facilitate the provision of second level education for all young people. Prior to that, all...

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assure Deputy Quinn that my advice from the Attorney General's office is that it would be extremely difficult to defend it.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: We must remember that the secondary education committee dispenses the block grant.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is a matter for it to decide where is the greatest need.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: On Deputy Crawford's question, the one thing I want to ensure is that diversity exists. I recognise the special position of the Protestant church but also that its schools are receiving a block grant of €6.25 million that no other fee-paying schools are receiving.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: That signifies there is acceptance of the diversity and that, as far as we are concerned, we want to maintain the block grant to ensure the schools in receipt thereof can survive and grow.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Stanton asked me whether I believe the withdrawal of funding will cause difficulty. I am well aware it will cause serious difficulty and I obviously have concerns about this. However, I must also bear in mind what is equitable and right.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In those circumstances, I must have regard to the rights of others.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Of course we gave no notice; it was a budgetary measure. As part of a budgetary measure, we made it quite clear that this was one of the cuts——

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am very well aware of how sensitive is this issue.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I want to deal with it as sensitively as I can but must emphasise that my clear legal advice from the Attorney General was that, if these grants are to remain, they will be extremely difficult to defend if challenged in a court of law.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: That advice has been in place for some time.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It was recently reiterated when the issue——

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: When the issue was checked, the advice still stood. It is a question of fee-paying schools and a grant of €6.25 million.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It was a block grant. The opportunity for the secondary education committee to dispense that €6.25 million to those particular pupils who are most in need——

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: That is the important point. There are some schools within the remit of the committee that obviously do not need the same level of support as others; for example, some of the rural schools.

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is within the remit of the secondary education committee——

Fee-paying Schools. (4 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——to dispense the money where it sees the greatest need.