Results 4,901-4,920 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been no change in the criteria governing the allocation of teaching and/or care resources to pupils with special educational needs. The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have not had any discussions with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs on this issue. As a result of changes in Budget 2009, the book grant is now available only to schools within the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) scheme. By limiting the school book grant to schools within the DEIS scheme, savings of €7.5m will be achieved. DEIS is the action plan for...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides grant aid towards the provision of temporary school accommodation to the management authorities of education providers where it is established that a need for such temporary accommodation exists. Generally, where schools require temporary accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring such temporary accommodation and the rental contract is between...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application for emergency funding from the school in question. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will be reached very shortly. The school authorities will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. 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....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding of €120,000 for the provision of an additional classroom. The management sought an increased grant toward the provision of additional accommodation over and above that approved. The school were advised that in the context of the funding available and the number of applications for that funding, their application was not successful....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 220 and 221 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 areas of public...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability. These special classes which are to close predate the 2005 General Allocation Model of allocating...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 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 multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Topographical land surveys and building surveys are generally carried out by the design team appointed to a school building project. This would normally form part of the detailed technical examination of a site as part of stage 1 of the architectural planning process. A Design Team is appointed by the client for the project, which is usually the Board of Management of the school.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Every year my Department invites all second level schools to participate in the Transition Year Programme. Circular 0064/2008 invited applications from schools for the 2008/2009 school year. The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the Transition Year Programme in that school. Guidelines have been issued by my Department to support schools...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The construction of the buildings in question was procured by my Department under a design and build contract. Accordingly, my Department is not responsible for the recording or approving of sub contractors employed by the Design and Build Consortium.

Written Answers — Compulsory Retirement Age: Compulsory Retirement Age (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a specific payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10643/09]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 233: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a specific payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10644/09]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 234: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a specific application will be approved and payment commence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10645/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Licences: Departmental Licences (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 235: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the assistance that will be given in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who requires to obtain a specific licence. [10747/09]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding in question will be used to provide for an expansion of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) so that all schools in the country will be covered by the service. The additional funding available to NEPS, which represents a 33% increase over the 2008 allocation, will facilitate the recruitment of up to 50 further psychologists. It is envisaged that this will bring...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An Implementation Advisory Group, representative of the key stakeholders in the amalgamation process, has been formed to advise my Department in relation to the functions of the new organisation. In parallel with these discussions, my Department is preparing a consultation paper which covers issues such as the proposed functions of the new agency and its governance and reporting...