Results 5,521-5,540 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently reviewing Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. There has been no change in these criteria and the current review will be carried out by reference to those criteria. A separate Value for Money and Policy Analysis...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 to 642, inclusive, together. I am committed to providing information in relation to the allocation of teachers to schools as a new feature on my Department's website. The process has begun with the provision earlier this year of initial information on the allocation of mainstream classroom teachers to primary schools under the revised schedule for 2009/10....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Fund for Students with Disabilities was introduced in 1994. It provides funding to students with disabilities, including visual impairment, who are attending courses in Irish and UK third level institutions and, since 1998, in post-leaving certificate centres. The fund is administered on behalf of the Department by the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education. The...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an application under the Summer Works Scheme for the school in question has been approved and my Department will be in contact with school authorities as quickly as possible.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is in receipt of an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for the refurbishment and redevelopment of its sports complex. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band 4 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (7 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The appointment of members of Boards of Management is a matter in the first instance for the relevant school patron. I can confirm that I have received correspondence from an individual in relation to the appointment of members of the Board of Management of the school in question. The issues raised in the correspondence were referred by my Department to the patron of the school. A letter...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. 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 — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, provides tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate course in EU member states and postgraduate courses in non-EU countries. An approved college in the State, in relation to a year of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that I have been anxious to develop this centre to provide for the promotion of excellence in the development and harmonisation of education and associated services for children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. A great deal has been achieved in collaboration with the Department of Education of Northern Ireland. The centre is delivering training...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: During the period mentioned in the Deputy's question, two officials at my Department have been dismissed. The Standards in Public Office Commission has published the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. This document consolidates the principles an official is expected to adhere to in carrying out his or her official duties and following their retirement or resignation from the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has identified a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy and has made a formal offer to the landowner to acquire the site. Contracts are now awaited from the vendor's solicitor to close on the sale. The Deputy will appreciate that given the commercial sensitivities in relation to the acquisition of sites, I am not in a position to comment any further.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment project. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.1 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including...

Written Answers — Child Abuse Commission: Child Abuse Commission (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A file containing allegations raised by the person to whom this question refers was opened in 1986. This file along with other similar files was given as part of a voluntary discovery of my Department's records to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in 2001.

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the first instance, I would like to point out that the survey to which the Deputy is referring, has issued to all voluntary post-primary schools, in addition to all primary schools. This survey arose from the talks which led to the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement in 2008. At that time it was agreed that the relevant parties would enter into discussions regarding the terms...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that an application has been received from the school authorities to retain the pupil in question in the school for the 2009/2010 school year. The application is currently being considered and a response will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. As a project progresses through the pre-tender stages of architectural planning, cost estimates for the project are provided by the design team as part of each stage submission. However, until a tender has been accepted on a project, no contractual commitment arises in respect of my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has identified a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy and has made a formal offer to the landowner to acquire the site. Contracts are now awaited from the vendor's solicitor to close on the sale. The Deputy will appreciate that given the commercial sensitivities in relation to the acquisition of sites, I am not in a position to comment any further. Once the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 May 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. My Department recently approved this project to proceed to seek planning permission and work on this is currently being progressed by the school's design team.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.3 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from...