Results 3,701-3,720 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available on a school basis and would take an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. However, the total number of teaching teachers in Counties Roscommon and Leitrim in the 2007/2008 school year was 317 and 152 respectively.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the documentation requested by my officials on foot of the offer of a site is still outstanding as is the Form of Consent to allow my Department apply for planning permission.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Drug prevention education is implemented as part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum in all primary and post-primary schools. The SPHE curriculum is mandatory in all primary schools and post-primary schools up to Junior Certificate Level, and is supported by full-time support services offering professional development to teachers and advice to schools. SPHE is...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office as follows: 2 Special Advisors, one of whom has responsibility for press and communications; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers; 3 Clerical Officers. The total anticipated annual salary and expenses in 2008 for these staff is €452,441. There are currently 5.5 officers in my Constituency Office as follows: 1 Personal...

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled from records within my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The costs involved in renting of off site rental storage for my Departments documents is a matter for the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, who act on behalf of my Department in relation to the rental of off-site storage. The following figures are per sq. m., it is not possible to supply figures for "banker box". The cost of this rental per annum is detailed below:...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Payment of the increases provided for under the terms of the Towards 2016 Agreement is dependent, in the case of each sector, organisation and grade, on verification of co-operation with flexibility and ongoing change, including co-operation with satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation set out in the Agreement, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an application for replacement temporary accommodation to my Department. The application is being assessed and the school authority will be informed of the decision as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Responsibility for checking on the suitability of new staff for positions in schools rests with Boards of Management as employers. Good practice should involve the checking of recent employment records, qualifications, experience and names of referees where a new substitute teacher is not known to the school or is approaching the school for the first time. While many substitute teachers...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the 2008/09 school year, my Department allocated a total of 1,715 whole time equivalent teaching posts to the private fee-paying post primary school sector. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill these teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority subject to agreed procedures. It is estimated that the average cost of employing a post-primary school teacher...

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Costs: Departmental Legal Costs (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the matter to which the Deputy refers. As the case remains before the Courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the detail of the proceedings. However, the Deputy should be aware that the educational intervention which is being provided to the child in question was found by the High Court to be appropriate and to meet his needs. It is the norm in these...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. My Department has a copy of a 99 year lease with the landowner in relation to the school in question. The Deputy will be aware that a lease is a document between the Landowners, the Trustees and me as Minister for Education and Science. I am advised that it is not general practice to release copies of same. The Deputy will be also be...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 12 of the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 provides that following its establishment, the agency must prepare a strategic plan consisting of a written statement and a plan indicating the strategy for the development of the Grangegorman site and a budget for its delivery. The agency recently submitted a draft strategic plan and budget to my Department. They are being examined...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established under statute in 2002. Under the terms of the legislation, the institutions to be covered by the terms of the scheme were listed on a Schedule to the Act. This Schedule initially contained 128 institutions. In 2004 a further 13 institutions were added to the Schedule by Ministerial Order in accordance with the legislation. Again in...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The teacher referred to by the Deputy shall receive salary for the last fortnightly period this week. Arrangements are being made to have the outstanding payments owed to the person issued as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The selection of teachers for appointment to state funded teaching positions is a matter for the employing school authority, which must take account of all appropriate legislation and agreed recruitment policies at Post-Primary level. My Department has no role in the selection process.

Written Answers — School Books Scheme: School Books Scheme (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included reductions on the aid for school books scheme which in the case of schools outside of the DEIS scheme will involve savings of approximately €7.5 million on current...

Written Answers — School Books Scheme: School Books Scheme (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy on the cost of the School Book Grant at second level from 1997 to 2007 is asfollows: Year 1997 €4.49m (IR£3.54m) 1998 €5.02m (IR£3.95m) 1999 €5.12m (IR£4.03m) 2000 €5.78m 2001 €5.97m 2002 €6.17m 2003 €6.36m 2004 €6.36m 2005 €7.02m 2006 €7.52m 2007 €7.94m In framing the budget, a range of very difficult policy...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has approved a new 24 classroom school and ancillary accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. This project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process (detailed design). As a matter of policy, my Department does not provide cost estimates for individual projects as this might prejudice the tendering process. Further progression of this...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect, Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in...