Results 5,721-5,740 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I take it that the Deputy is referring to my Department's decision to suppress a special class for pupils with a mild general learning disability (MGLD) in the school in question. I wish to assure the Deputy that 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...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Combined classes are a feature of the majority of schools in the country and this arrangement has no adverse implications for the quality of the education children receive. While the staffing schedule allocates on the basis of an average number of pupils each individual school decides on how to arrange its classes. In terms of class sizes almost 80% of primary pupils were in classes of less...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the post primary school to which he refers was included in my recent announcement of 43 projects to proceed to tender and construction in 2009. A building contractor has not yet been appointed as the project is still progressing towards tender stage. The contract notice seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified contractors has been...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an appeal from the candidates referred to by the Deputy. The appeal was made on the grounds of a change in circumstances. My Department examined the appeal and it was determined that there was not satisfactory evidence to prove a change in circumstance which is likely to be permanent therefore the decision of the assessing authority was upheld.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A new 16 classroom school building with a 2 classroom ASD Unit was opened in 2007 for the school referred to by the Deputy. My Department is not currently paying any rent in relation to prefabs for this school.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the outstanding document referred to has been received from the preferred bidder and is in order. The Letter of Acceptance will issue as soon as legal title to the site has been confirmed.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A review of payments made by my Department during the first four months of 2009, to bodies classified as being outside of the public sector, showed that approximately 84.5% of payments were made within 15 days from the date of receipt of a valid invoice from a supplier, 12.5% of payments were made between 15 and 30 days while just under 3.0% of payments were made after 30 days. My Department...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers to is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school's application for Major Capital Grant Aid has been assessed in accordance with the prioritisation criteria agreed by the education partners, and has been assigned a Band rating of 2.1. My Department received a Stage 1/2 submission (Site Suitability, Site Report and Initial Sketch Scheme) last...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the maintenance grant schemes, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment. The decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC as appropriate. The Nationality requirement as...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Institutes of Technology are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs or in relation to decisions concerning course provision. The Institutes receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how this is allocated internally across different academic programmes....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. I recently met with the school authorities and discussed with them the current status of their project. My Department will shortly be in contact with the school authority regarding the next stage of the project.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the review of all Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts in primary, special and post-primary schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). I wish to advise the Deputy that the NCSE has been requested by my Department to arrange for its Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) to review SNA allocations in all schools with a view to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides funding for 38 projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas. The projects are located in very disadvantaged areas and, through a variety of programmes and activities, seek to encourage susceptible young people not to engage in drug-taking. Expenditure on these projects for the past three years is as follows: 2006 - €3,316,743 2007 - €3,621,000 2008 - €3,651,262...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The responsibility also includes identifying...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department has received a major capital application from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 1.1. The building project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large scale building...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has a general policy of encouraging the use of school facilities by community and other groups where this is possible and where appropriate arrangements are made to reimburse the school for any additional expenditure incurred by the school associated with such usage (heating, lighting, caretaking, insurance, etc). However, any proposal for the use of school facilities outside...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The project will provide for a 16 classroom extension and refurbishment of the existing school. A Stage 2A submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) was received by my Department in April 2009. My Department will revert to the school when the submission has been examined. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. As the Deputy will be aware, in February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project to which the Deputy refers was not included in this...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. Health staff may make...