Results 6,621-6,640 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be sent to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that an application for large scale capital funding for a new second level college at Croom, County Limerick has been made to my Department. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Projects: Departmental Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The pilot programme recommended by the Task Force on Active Citizenship in its March 2007 Report is operated by the National Assessment Committee of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) from a fund administered by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA). Through its Regional Office Service, my Department has encouraged schools to make their...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been approved to progress to tender and construction and is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. An application has been made for planning permission and the Design Team are currently working on providing further information which was requested by the local authority. An application for a fire safety certificate...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that applications have been received from three higher education institutions for designation as Universities; Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. The issue of university designation does not just affect the institutions and the regions from which applications have been received; it also impacts on the future...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the student support schemes, maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or the non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable where the grant holder's normal residence is 24 Km or less from the college which he/she is registered. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases, including all eligible mature students. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that in view of the current budgetary constraints I am not in a position to provide a definite date for the acquisition of a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. On foot of my Department acquiring a suitable site, the proposed building project for the school will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that an application for large scale capital funding for an extension has been made to my Department by 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 an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Final tenders for the second bundle of Primary/Post Primary schools consisting of six schools including the school referred to by the Deputy were received by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on the 1st July 2009. The tender evaluation process is nearing completion and it is expected that the preferred bidder will be announced shortly. Subject to the planning process it is...

Written Answers — Higher Education Authority Funding: Higher Education Authority Funding (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1127 and 1130 together. The recurrent provision for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for 2009 is some €6.236 million. Recurrent funding allocated by my Department to the HEA in each of the past ten years is set out in the attached table. These funds are used to meet the general running expenses of the Authority. Planned expenditure levels for my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Authority Funding: Higher Education Authority Funding (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1129 together. The Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through three sub-priorities: the Students Assistance Fund, the Fund for Students with Disabilities and the Millennium Partnership Fund. The Higher Education Authority also provides institutions with recurrent funding to develop the necessary infrastructure and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Funding: Higher Education Funding (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is committed to promoting Ireland as a centre for international education and a high quality educational experience for international students must be at the core of our offering. I recently announced my intention to establish a high level group on international education, which will initially focus on developing a national strategy for the promotion of international...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Media education is a specific strand unit within the social, personal and health education programme for all primary school pupils. By sixth class pupils develop an understanding of how information is conveyed, what may be deliberately excluded, the role of bias and the different messages promoted in advertising. The curriculum is designed to promote an increasingly critical and discerning...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware I presented the technical report in relation to the introduction of a form of student contribution to my Cabinet colleagues recently. This report sets out the various options available which looks at available models and draws on experience with other systems that operate internationally. The report is intended to allow for an informed examination of the issue —...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The courses referred to by the Deputy are not eligible courses under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes, which provide for grants only on a means-tested basis. I understand that discussions are currently ongoing between Fáilte Ireland, Institutes of Technology Ireland and the Higher Education Authority in relation to the future management and administration of these courses...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's PPP school building programme. A site has been purchased for the provision of a new school building. My Department is now in the process of identifying what school projects are eligible for consideration for inclusion in the 4th bundle of PPP schools which I intend announcing as quickly as possible and the school in question...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1136, 1281 together. I am aware of the case being made by Justice for Magdalene. The position of the women who resided in the Magdalen laundries is one of the issues that has also been raised by groups representing survivors, following publication of the Ryan Report. The position in relation to the Magdalen laundries under the existing redress arrangements,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume the Deputy is referring to the discontinuation of the Special Class for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) in the school in question. The Deputy will be aware that teacher allocations to schools typically increase or decrease depending on pupil enrolment. In the case of classes for MGLD the normal pupil teacher ratio that applies is 11:1. My Department however...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Teachers are appointed in a temporary capacity to primary schools for various reasons. Examples are the replacement of teachers taking career breaks from teaching or replacing teachers on secondment arrangements. Temporary teachers may also be employed to fill short term vacancies pending the appointment of permanent replacements where teachers retire or resign from employment during the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are a total of 45 prefab units, (ranging from 16m2 to 473m2) being rented by schools in the Longford and Westmeath area. The total annual rental cost for all units is €824,215. It is anticipated that there will be a saving of at least €14m in expenditure on rental of temporary accommodation in 2009, compared to 2008. This clearly demonstrates the efforts being made by my...