Results 3,981-4,000 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that NEPS, in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Retired inspectors who sit on interview boards for teachers in VEC and community and comprehensive schools are paid at a daily rate in accordance with the Department of Finance approved rate of payment to retired civil servants engaged to serve on interview boards. VECs and community and comprehensive schools were advised by my Department in July 2008 of an increase in the rate, with...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 the quality of existing primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question submitted an application to my Department for emergency funding. Emergency works grants are made available to schools most in need of resources as a result of unforeseen emergencies of a capital nature that may arise during the school year. Following assessment of the application from this school and in light of the large number of projects seeking funding from my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland Board of Education, led by Archbishop John Neill, on 13 November last. The meeting provided me with an opportunity to explain at first hand the context for the budget changes that were of concern to the Bishops and the schools serving the Church of Ireland and other minority churches. In the course of the meeting, I confirmed my budget...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tables. 2007 Name of Consultant Cost € System Dynamics Solutions Ltd 13,310.00 Mary Immaculate College 73,000.00 Eustace Patterson Ltd 52,060.25 Phoenix Safety 4,803.70 Horwath Consulting Ireland Ltd 80,525.50 Indecon 78,200.00 Certification Europe Ltd 15,246.00 Deloitte & Touche 27,860.25 Eco-Unesco...

Written Answers — School Enrolment: School Enrolment (11 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently some 21,000 part-time undergraduate students enrolled in the university and institute of technology sectors. It is not known how many of these students would qualify under any extension of the Free Fees Initiative as this would be determined by the eligibility criteria that would apply to such a scheme, including for example, residency, nationality, previous higher...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major extension/refurbishment project is currently under way at the school referred to by the Deputy it is envisaged that the works will be completed in May 2009.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my intention that the qualifications body which will arise from the amalgamation of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council should take on responsibility for providing the regulatory framework for the provision of international education programmes. In the interim, I have...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My officials have been in contact with the NCSE and have been advised that an application for Special Needs Assistant support was received on 13 October 2008. The application was incomplete and further documentation was requested from the school authorities, which was subsequently received on 12 December 2008. I am informed that the local Special Educational Needs Organiser has been in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware that the Deputy raised this issues in October last and I wish to inform him that my Department recently completed the process of examining issues relating to the administrative burden on business. The administrative burden on business focuses on commercial private sector organisations and regulations made by my Department which impact on education related bodies such as schools...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established under statute: To afford victims of abuse in childhood an opportunity to tell of the abuse they suffered to a sympathetic and experienced forum. To establish as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of the physical and sexual abuse of children in institutions and in other...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 480 together. The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers has a Band 2.4 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. It is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of projects with a similar and higher band...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Students who qualify for a maintenance grant for their attendance on a recognised full-time approved course in a third-level institution may also qualify for the higher, Special Rate of Maintenance Grant if they satisfy the relevant terms and conditions. The payment referred to by the Deputy is an eligible social welfare payments prescribed under the Scheme. To qualify for the Special...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: School building projects are selected for inclusion in the School Building and Modernisation Programme on the basis of priority of need. My Department achieves this by assessing all applications for large scale capital funding against published prioritisation criteria. These criteria were devised following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, individual...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operate within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will undertake to...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Board of Management is the client for the project to which the Deputy refers. An issue has arisen in relation to the appointment of certain Design Team members by the Board. This issue must be resolved by it before the project can be considered for further progress.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from my Department are currently reviewing the Stage 2A submission, i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme. On completion of this review my officials will be in further contact with the school authorities. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Schedules of accommodation have been accepted by County Offaly VEC for the proposed building project at 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 on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and...