Results 5,181-5,200 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the current terms of the third level student grant schemes, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold a qualification and are pursuing a second qualification at the same level. This restriction applies to every student who already holds a qualification at the same level, irrespective of where that qualification was obtained or whether or not funding was...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of refurbishing the room in the school referred to by the Deputy arose from High Court proceedings in 2006 relating to suitable education provision for the child in question. An independent expert's report identified the school as the most suitable location for this child. The school were willing to accept the child but required works to be carried out to the school building to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware a key focus and priority of my Department is to provide for resources in schools to support pupils with special educational needs, including those with dyslexia. For mainstream primary schools, this is done through the General Allocation Model. This model was introduced in September 2005 and ensures that mainstream primary schools have the additional teaching...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (2 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Third Level Student Support Schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration (pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds) in other EU Member States with effect from the 1996/97 academic year. The extension...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (2 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tax relief was provided in the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 where an employer provides a bicycle for an employee. The implementation of the scheme for the Civil Service is being dealt with by the Department of Finance. I understand that implementing the scheme in the Civil Service has given rise to a number of issues, particularly in relation to procurement, warranty and insurance. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is one of 10 projects announced in January to be re-tendered with a view to going on site as soon as possible. For this project to go to construction it needs to be re-tendered under the new Department of Finance form of contract for public capital projects. The prequalification advertisement has recently been published inviting expressions of interest....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy got a new system built accommodation in 2008 which is suitable for its current needs. My Department acquired the site for the school and has provided funding of approximately €1.2 million including building costs,design team fees and furniture and equipment.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that, as the persons in question have appealed the decision previously made by the High Court in relation to a case taken by them against the Minister for Education & Science to the Supreme Court, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the case or to meet with them at the present time.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy which is currently under review and it is anticipated a reply will issue to the student shortly.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has requested Fingal County Council to acquire a permanent site for the school in question under the Fingal Memorandum Agreement. The acquisition of the site will be dependant on the successful outcome of negotiations held by the local authority and will also need to be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project for the School to which the Deputy refers is currently an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A project for the school to which the Deputy refers has been approved for the appointment of a Design Team. This process is under way and is expected to be completed shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project for the School to which the Deputy refers is currently an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised that my Department is in ongoing discussions with the CSSO in order to progress the acquisition of this site. The Deputy will appreciate that due to the commercial sensitivity attaching to the site acquisition process, I am not in a position to elaborate further at this point in time. The further progression of the acquisition of the site in question will also need to be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is a new 24 classroom primary school plus ancillary accommodation. Following an initial pre-qualification process, tenders were invited and six valid tenders were returned. The valid tenders are currently being examined and, while this process is ongoing, it is not appropriate to provide any further detail concerning the tenders. Subject to the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 374 together. In light of the Budget 2009 decision my Department has now published a circular for schools which sets out how the new arrangements will operate for the allocation of language support teachers from September 2009. The circular sets out a structured and transparent approach for the operation of the alleviation measures that were announced...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Parliamentary Question to which the Deputy refers relates to the number of retired officials and inspectors from my Department who have been appointed to various boards in which my Department can make such appointments, and the number of appointments made in each year over the past five years. A reply to the Parliamentary Question issued to Deputy Shortall on the 26th March 2009. The...

Written Answers — University Status: University Status (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The establishment of additional universities is governed by Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997, which states that the Government may, at any time, appoint a body, the membership of which shall be recommended by An tÚdarás (the Higher Education Authority) and shall include international experts and national experts, including employees of universities to which this Act applies, to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 390 together. The budget measures will impact on individual schools in different ways depending on whether enrolment is rising or declining and the degree to which any one school has more teachers than it is entitled to under the allocation processes. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of...