Results 6,701-6,720 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Information on the current school building programme and on applications on hand for major capital works is available on my Department's web-site at www.education.ie. The following tabular statement provides the additional information for schools in South Tipperary requested by the Deputy. Every application for major capital works is initially given a provisional priority band rating. A...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Department Circular 11/95 states that a full school day at primary level comprises a period of not less than five hours and forty minutes. Circular 11/95 and the Rules for National Schools also provide that pupils in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day, (i.e. 5 hours and forty minutes). It is a matter for the Board of...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The residency clause of the scheme requires, in the case of a candidate under 23, that the candidate's parents or guardians to have been resident in the administrative area of a Local Authority from 1st October of the previous year. In the case of an independent mature candidate the candidate himself/herself must have been resident in the administrative area of a Local Authority from 1st...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252, 1253, 1268 together. There are a number of circumstances in which it is possible for teachers and other education sector staff to retire on pension before preserved pension age. This is 60 years of age or, in the case of new entrants appointed on or after 1 April 2004 for the first time or following at least a 6 month break in service, 65 years of age....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1255 to 1257, inclusive, and 1274 together. The project to which the Deputies refer is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. A stage 2A submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) has recently been received in my Department and is currently under consideration. The major project, which includes the provision of an enhanced community facility in conjunction...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware I presented the technical report in relation to the introduction of a form of student contribution to my Cabinet colleagues recently. The report is intended to allow for an informed examination of the issue and sets out broad policy options in an Irish context which draws on experience from other systems that operate internationally. The report also sets out a range of...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Schemes: Home-School Liaison Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The current hourly rate of payment is €44.33 for a qualified primary teacher and €49.60 for a qualified post primary teacher. Tutors who are not qualified teachers are paid at a rate of €30.49 per hour.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme is a reflection of the Government's gratitude for the significant contribution made by Senator Mitchell to the promotion of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The Government provided an endowment of IR£2million for the programme in 1999. In 2007, a decision was taken to secure the long term viability of this programme...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The George Mitchell Scholarship Programme is run on an academic year basis. Details of the numbers of students participating in this programme in the 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 academic years are set out in a table. Institution 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 Dublin City University (DCU) 1 2 0 National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) 1 1 1.5* National University of Ireland,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers was one of ten projects announced in January 2009 to be re-tendered. In order to prepare for tender and to comply with the new form of Government contract, the project was required to submit a new Stage 2b (detailed design). Following the receipt and clearance of the Stage 2b (detailed design) submission, the project was authorised to go tender in June...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has made a written offer to the school authorities for a site for the school in question. A response is awaited.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the relevant local authority or Vocational Education Committee. The student referred to by the Deputy should seek clarification directly from the relevant assessing authority as the individual circumstances will have a bearing on the eligibility of the candidate. These bodies do not refer...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The number for post-primary enrolments are based on the returns from schools of students enrolled as at 30th September each year. The number of students enrolled in the mainstream Junior and Leaving Certificate programmes during 2008/2009 was 307,944. If PLC and Core VTOS students enrolled in post-primary schools are included this figure is 342,324. The processing of 2009/2010 enrolments as...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The following link to the Department of Education and Science's website provides data on projections of full-time enrolment in all teaching institutions aided by this Department at First, Second and Third level (including information on various underlying assumptions with regard to demography and retention): http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/des_proj_fte_200 8_2030.doc?language=EN...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has a contract with Vodafone for the supply of mobile voice and data services. These services were procured by means of the national framework for the supply of mobile voice and data services, plus associated products and services, to public bodies. My official mobile phone services are provided as part of the contract with Vodafone.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of staff who have been dismissed for misconduct, poor performance or failing to fulfil the terms of their contract from my Department in each of the past five years is as follows: — 1 Officer of my Department was dismissed for underperformance in 2004 — 2 Officers of my Department were dismissed for misconduct in 2006 — 2 Officers of my Department were dismissed for...

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 — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware the board of management of each school is required to prepare a code of behaviour in accordance with the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. My Department further requires each school to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall school code of behaviour and discipline. Such a code, developed...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There is no indication that there was any breach or attempted breach of the Esinet system.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local authority or VEC, as appropriate. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in exceptional circumstances. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance...