Results 4,341-4,360 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from the Forward Planning Section of the Department met with Cork County Council Officials once in 2008 to discuss general issues in relation to the Draft County Development Plan. However, the Forward Planning Section of the Department made submissions during 2008 to both the Draft County Development Plan and the Draft Midleton Area Development Plan which outlined the need for an...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is part of the Interdepartmental Committee to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This Committee is currently considering the requirements of the Convention and the action required before ratification can proceed.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at...

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The following table sets out the relevant details of payments by this Department: Home T&S Claimed 1 June 07 – 31 December 08 € Minister Mary Hanafin 0.00 Minister Batt O'Keeffe 493.87 Minister Sean Haughey 26,618.99 Foreign T&S Claimed 1 June 07 – 31 December 08 Minister Mary Hanafin 3,716.92 Minister Batt O'Keeffe 1,098.61 Minister Sean Haughey 0.00 Expense Allowance paid...

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000: Motion (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the draft Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000 (Section 5) (Specified Period) Order, 2009, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 22nd January, 2009. The operation of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is governed by the terms of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000 and the amended Act of 2005. Under section...

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000: Motion (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank all the Deputies who contributed and I shall try to respond as best I can to some of the issues they raised. The judgment which Deputy Hayes mentioned refers to the Residential Institutions Redress Board and not to the commission. With regard to the report and the four-month extension, that request came from Mr. Justice Ryan. He indicated clearly that over 90% of the report has been...

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000: Motion (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I beg the Deputy's pardon.

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000: Motion (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Let us hear what the courts decide and we will then look at that issue. The interpretation section of the Act defined the term "child" and other cognate expressions as somebody who had not attained 18 years. This operated to exclude the applicant who was over 18 when initially placed in the institution. However, at the time the applicant was placed in the institution, she was regarded under...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There has been no delay in my Department in dealing with the issues that arose in connection with pigs that have been or may have been exposed to contaminated feed. Immediately following receipt of the PCB positive results, movement restrictions were placed on 17 pig farms. There were in excess of 130,000 pigs on the farms from where pigs are to be slaughtered. After consultation with the...

Written Answers — Physical Education: Physical Education (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: At primary level, physical education (PE) is one of the six secular curriculum areas in the revised Primary Curriculum. The curriculum was revised in 1999 and implemented on a phased basis, with PE being introduced in 2005/6 prefaced by a national programme of in-service training for teachers. At post-primary level, in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools physical...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As a result of the 2009 Budget provisions for Education, arising from current economic challenges and following subsequent proposals from the management bodies of primary schools, new arrangements are being put into place for substitution cover for uncertified sick leave for teachers in primary schools. In primary schools there will be substitute cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project 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 current competing demands on the capital...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jan 2009)

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 in relation to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is responsible for all aspects of the assessment and approval of schools including the decision to procure schools via Public Private Partnership (PPP). This included the setting of project budgets, the development of output specifications in accordance with Department guidelines and other service requirements and agreeing the Public Sector Benchmark (compiled with the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department purchased a site for the school in question. There are no ongoing discussions by my Department in relation to adjacent lands for the school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on the 23rd January last, I announced details of 10 major school building projects which are to proceed to tender and construction. The project for the school to which the Deputy refers, which is for a new school, is included in this list. While all of the projects concerned were previously offered for tender, they will now be re-offered under the new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application from the school in question in December 2008 for funding for a proposed new 3 classroom school. My Department will be in contact with the school in relation to its application.

Written Answers — ICT Support Service: ICT Support Service (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Value for Money Review of the ICT Support Service, addressing the work of the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), the ICT Advisory Service and specific posts assigned to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, was undertaken by my Department. While concluding that the ICT Support Service was generally effective and efficient, the Report recognised that each...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In December last, my Department wrote to the school to which the Deputy refers approving payment of fees in respect of the stage which that building project has reached. My Department is currently awaiting the submission of invoices for the fees in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from the Planning & Building Unit of my Department have recently been in contact with the school in relation to this matter. The school has been informed that the stage submission has been accepted in principle and that it is now in order for the design team to submit fee invoices in respect of their work to date.