Results 5,341-5,360 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Details of uncertified sick leave for 2007, 2008 and 2009 as requested by the Deputy are contained in the tabular statement. The Department of Finance circular 25/78 governs the conditions that apply to sick leave for officials within the Civil Service. Under the conditions an official can at most take 7 uncertified sick days with pay within a 12 month period. However, my Department has a...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a project for a new 16 classroom building for the first school to which he refers is included among the list of major school building projects which I announced on the 12 of February last to enter architectural design. My officials will be contacting each school on the list about the next steps to be taken. No decision has yet been taken on the...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The overall spend on school transport in 2009 is now estimated to be â¬192 million - a reduction of â¬2 million in the supplementary budget. Bus Ãireann was informed on 7 April that due to the very difficult fiscal conditions, it is not possible for the Department to approve any increase towards compensating private operators on contract to Bus Eireann for any loss of income arising from...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment : Schools Refurbishment (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extensive sports hall refurbishment and the replacement of temporary accommodation. The project has been assigned a Band 2.4 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. As the Deputy will be aware, in February, I announced details of 43 major...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As previously indicated to the Deputy my Department has met with representatives of the City and County Managers' Association to agree on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding on the site acquisition process. I am advised that my Department has and will continue to consult with the Chief State Solicitors Office on the draft Memorandum given their role as the Department's legal advisers...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I anticipate that the Education (Patronage) Bill will be published during the current Dáil session.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: 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 in the budget for schools that have a significant...
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am finalising arrangements for the implementation of the Budget announcement and will inform all members in the very near future of these arrangements.
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for 2009 and onwards. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 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. It has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria of my Department and assigned a Band rating of 2.2. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in question, from initial design stage...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As part of my Department's current review of prefabricated accommodation, contact is being made with all suppliers of prefabricated accommodation in relation to existing rental contracts. Therefore, I am not in a position to provide information on payments to individual companies, as requested by the Deputy, due to commercial sensitivity. I can say, however, that a total of almost â¬27m...
- Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The requirement for a Health and Safety Statement for the work place is governed by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This Act, which is regulated by the Health and Safety Authority, sets out the main provisions for securing and improving the safety, health and welfare of people at work which includes the control of safety and health at work, the management and organisation...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The amount spent in 2008 in respect of costs associated with site preparation, including architect and surveyor fees, delivery, installation and removal costs for rented prefab accommodation in 2008 was â¬10.5 million. It is too early at this stage to project the portion of the â¬48m which will be spent on such costs in 2009.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Circular 0022/2009 outlines the Government decision to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium across the civil and public sector with effect from 27th March, 2009. With effect from 27 March 2009 schools may no longer make any appointment to a post of responsibility including those that may have fallen vacant on or before 27 March 2009. Accordingly schools must immediately cease any...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Following the Government decision on the moratorium on promotions in the Public Service my Department issued a circular to all schools indicating that with effect from 27 March, 2009 schools may no longer make any appointment to a post of responsibility including those that may have fallen vacant on or before 27 March, 2009. This Circular 0022/2009 is available on my Department's website....
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table. Expense Account Credit Card Holder Credit Limit Year Expenditure Minister â¬10,000 2008 â¬1,760.48 2009 â¬7.60 Private Secretary to Minister â¬10,000 2004 â¬825.29 2005 â¬1,605.07 2006 â¬5,829.65 2007 â¬459.35 2008 â¬3,240.74 2009 â¬1,608.38 ...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted two applications for emergency funding to my Department in 2009. The first application relating to funding for special needs pupils has been approved and the school informed accordingly. The second application for works relating to roof repairs, heating upgrade, art room and toilet refurbishment is under consideration and the school management...
- Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that the Department of Education and Science is meeting the agreed national target figure of at least 3% for employment of persons in its offices with a disability.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: There are two post-primary schools currently under construction in County Offaly. These schools are being delivered under a Public Private Partnership Contract. There is no specific requirement under the PPP Contracts to employ local labour and, therefore, no issue arises regarding compliance. However, it is my understanding that the Contractor in question has made some commitments in this...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 to 438, inclusive, together. Generally, the purchase of furniture and equipment for new and existing schools is devolved to the individual school authorities, subject to approval from my Department. It is a requirement of grant aid that public procurement procedures are strictly adhered to. National procurement procedures apply when the estimated total...