Results 3,921-3,940 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 416, 439 and 466 together. 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, the education sector, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 to 421, inclusive, together. A database of temporary accommodation is currently being finalised and will inform my Department's future decision-making in this area. Information is being collated on approximately 900 schools which have received approval from my Department for temporary accommodation including, but not limited to, prefabs. The information...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 454 together. An application for large scale capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed by the Planning and Building Unit of my Department and has been assigned a band 2 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the project will be considered in the context of...

Written Answers — Departmental Guidelines: Departmental Guidelines (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has strict rules regarding foreign travel which are in compliance with the Department of Finance circulars. The over-riding principle of our approach to foreign travel is that travel costs should be kept to a minimum and that official attendance provides good value for money. Foreign travel is only permitted when it is contributes to the Department's business needs and goals...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The extension/refurbishment project at 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427, 442 to 444, inclusive, and 458 together. I have consistently said that 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...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for works under the 2008 Summer Works Scheme. Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004, 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 is on providing sufficient school places...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project to which the Deputy refers was announced to commence architectural planning on the 8th November 2006. The schedule of overall accommodation for the school in question was recently agreed with the Management Authority of the school. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed project for the school in question is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. 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. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received no appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy. 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...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is open to the Board of Management of a primary school to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0010/2008, available on my Department's website. The criteria are also...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the development of the Metro North line is the subject of an on-going public consultation process, which is being conducted by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). This process is the correct mechanism for raising the issues to which the Deputy refers and the school authority in question should avail of it to ensure that its concerns are addressed. I also understand...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to large scale building projects. Normally, a completed application form for major capital funding is not accompanied by any building plans or documents as these would only be developed once a design team is in place for a project. Initially, a completed application form is assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria, assigned a...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Higher Education institutions are conscious of the need to develop more flexible modes of learning and my Department is working with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to support the expansion of opportunities in this area. Developmental funding has already been allocated under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). One key activity funded by the SIF is the Supported Flexible Learning...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 29 September, the building project for the school in question was one of 25 schools which I announced could proceed to tender and construction. A tender report for this project was previously received by my Department. However, from February 2008 all Capital Works Projects must use the new Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC) Forms...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 7 officers in the Private Office of the Minister of State at my Department, 2 of whom are non Civil Servants. The grades of these officers are: 1 Higher Executive Officer/Private Secretary; 1 Executive Officer 3 Clerical Officers; 2 Civilian Drivers (non Civil Servants). The salary cost of this office in 2008, is anticipated to be in the region of €283,400. There are...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is in receipt of an application for contingency funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue to the school authority as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The management of the school in question wrote to my Department on 20th November 2008 in relation to the replacement of prefabs and sewage/yard works. The school was requested by letter on 1st December to complete and return the appropriate application forms which were supplied to the school. On receipt, the applications will be considered and a response issued to the school management...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for ancillary accommodation. The project, which has a Band 3 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which reflects the type of works needed and the urgency attaching to them. There are four Band Ratings in all with Band 1 being...