Results 6,541-6,560 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The progression of school building projects, whether to commence architectural planning or to proceed to tender and construction, is undertaken with regard to the availability of funding and the priority attaching to projects. Priority is established primarily on the basis of a projects' band-rating in accordance with the Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects, details of which are...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware a project to provide an Additional Classroom, a PE hall and Ancillary accommodation was completed in August 2005, at the school to which he refers. The school have recently submitted an application for additional temporary accommodation. The application and subsequent appeal submitted by the school was assessed with reference to the current accommodation, staffing...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Sep 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. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The schools approved funding for the purchase of prefabricated classroom(s)/construction of permanent classroom(s) in 2008 and 2009 are listed in the tabular statement. The list indicates which schools have opted to provide permanent accommodation for the same funding. The Deputy will note that a number of schools have not yet indicated to my Department which option they intend to pursue....

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department grant aids school authorities for appropriate costs associated with rental of temporary accommodation, where such accommodation has been approved by my Department. Payment of the annual rental cost, upon receipt in my Department of the necessary supporting documentation, is generally made to schools in advance and in two instalments, i.e. January - June and July - December...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 to 366, inclusive, together. The project for the school to which the Deputy refers was included in my announcement in February 2009 of projects to proceed to tender and construction. A stage 2B submission has been received by my Department and is currently being considered. A contract notice seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been requested by my Department to arrange 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. The review is currently under way and it is...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of the school concerned. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment in schools. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in my announcement in February 2009 of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction. The project is currently at Stage 2b (Detailed Design). The Design Team's Stage 2b submission has been examined by my Department and a number of issues have been raised. The Board of Management and Design Team have...

Written Answers — Oideachais Gaeltachta: Oideachais Gaeltachta (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá géar-riachtanas ann laghduithe suntasacha a dhéanamh i gcaiteachas buiséadach insna blianta romhainn amach. Machnófar na leibhéil caiteachais do mo Roinnse mar chuid den phróiseas Meastachán agus buiséadach do 2010. San áireamh anseo beidh machnamh ar thuarascáil an Ghrúpa Speisialta um Uimhreacha Seirbhíse Poiblí agus um Chláir Chaiteachais. Gnó don Rialtas é na...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes will be considered as part of the estimates process for 2010. The decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

Written Answers — Education Centre Network: Education Centre Network (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department gives support and funding to a network of twenty one full time and nine part time centres and the three centres mentioned by the Deputy operate on a part time basis. As the Deputy is aware the recently published "Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes" recommended a specific number of options for reducing current spending in my...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act and to do so in a manner that respects principles of equality. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: To qualify for the Special Rate of maintenance grant, an applicant must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the 2009/10 academic year. In addition, total reckonable income must not exceed a specified amount, which is €22,308 in the 2008 tax year. On the operative date, 31st December 2008 for the 2009/10 academic year, the reckonable income must include one of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas, throughout the country, where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for future years. The area referred to by the Deputy will be included in this process. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government Decision to reduce the payment period for commercial transactions from 30 to 15 calendar days came into effect from 15 June 2009. The records of payments to suppliers and other contractors made by my Department between 19 May 2009 and 17 September 2009 show that approximately 80% of payments were made within 15 days from the date of receipt of a valid invoice from a supplier,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, there is an ongoing need for capital investment in educational infrastructure in all sectors due to anticipated demographic increases which will lead to increasing enrolments and participation levels. There will also be a continuing requirement to upgrade existing accommodation in our schools and third-level institutions. The extent of capital expenditure in the...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 389, inclusive, together. My Department has an arrangement with the Colleges of Education whereby data on the student and graduate numbers is collected twice a year. The intention of this arrangement is to collate the data at optimum times in order to capture full and accurate information. This process is now taking place and I hope to have the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 392 and 415 to 418, inclusive, 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. My Department does not keep dual records for teacher allocations to schools...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 393 together. Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. At the level of individual schools the budget changes in relation to the allocation of teaching posts will impact in different ways depending on whether enrolment is rising or...