Results 5,741-5,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant Local Authority or VEC and remains of the view that the...

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 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...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise that the patron and management authority of the schools referred to by he Deputy have agreed to amalgamate from 1 Sept 2009 forming a new school called the Holy Child National School. The Department has approved the amalgamation and is currently in the process of issuing a formal letter of approval to the school Patron and Board of Management.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting an educational placement and to provide early intervention for pre-school children...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers was granted provisional recognition for a period of one year from September 2008 subject to compliance with a number of terms and conditions. In general, to be considered for permanent recognition a school must make an application stating that they have met the Criteria for Recognition of New Primary Schools, which include the requirement to follow the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has made application for capital funding for an extension to their school. The project has been assigned a band rating of 2.2. The next step is the appointment of a design team. The Department is currently examining a proposal from this school and will be in contact with the school shortly in this regard. The progression of all large scale building...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school concerned. Under present arrangements a teacher on maternity leave is replaced by a substitute teacher recruited by the Board of Management.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy was included in my announcement, earlier this year, of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. My Department will shortly be in contact with the school to finalise the brief for this project and to agree the schedules of accommodation, following which, a design team will be appointed. At this early stage, when architectural planning...

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 he refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects 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 through...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding to provide an ASD unit at the school to which the Deputy refers. On foot of this application the Department authorised the school to commission a feasibility study for the conversion of an adjacent premises for use as an ASD Unit. The Department is awaiting costings for this conversion. Once these costing are received and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The OPW has been recently instructed to recommence negotiations up to contract stage for a site for the school. Due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment on the details of the matter. The acquisition of the site will then be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department has sought and received clarification from South Dublin County Council in relation to prospective lands for a site for a school in the Lucan area. The Local Authority has confirmed that the site is not situated within the Liffey Valley Special Area Amenity Area Order (SAAO) boundary. The question of extending the SAAO is not a matter for my...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is one of ten projects announced in January to be re-tendered with a view to going on site as soon as possible. My Department reviewed the Stage 2B (detailed design) submission from the Design Team, and identified some issues to be clarified. A meeting has been held with the school authorities and their Design Team. Upon confirmation from the school...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The provision of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers necessitates the acquisition of a site. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that County Dublin VEC has agreed to make a site available to the Department for this purpose. The legalities attaching are currently being executed. Once the site is acquired, consideration can be given to the inclusion of a building project...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy is currently using prefabricated accommodation pending the provision of a major building project. This school was included in my announcement on 12 February last of forty three major school building projects which are to progress to tender and construction. My Department is awaiting the submission of the Stage 2(b) - Detailed design - from the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has arranged for its Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) to review 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. I wish to clarify that there has been no change in these criteria and the current review will be carried out...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Circular 0023/2009 outlines the impact on community and comprehensive schools and VECs of the Government decision to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium in the public sector. As the Deputy will be aware, positions other than teacher and SNA posts in schools and VECs, including the caretaker post referred to by the Deputy, are comprehended by this decision. Officials of my...

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 2.2. The building project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large scale building...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is 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 the Department's criteria in allocating such support. Each SENO works in an...