Results 6,761-6,780 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the panel is well advanced in its work and expects to be in a position to report to the Government before the end of October. It is intended that the conclusions of the Panel will be made public.

Written Answers — George Mitchell Scholarship Fund: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (13 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 £2 million for the programme in 1999. In 2007, a decision was taken to secure the long term viability of this programme...

Written Answers — George Mitchell Scholarship Fund: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (13 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 George Mitchell Scholarship Fund in 1999. Under the terms of a 1999 agreement between the US-Ireland...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Fund for Students with Disabilities allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to full-time students with disabilities. The Fund is administered on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority and is part-funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently 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 is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The proposed building...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The inquiry to which the Deputy refers was established in February 2006 by my predecessor as Minister for Education and Science. The inquiry relates to Kilkenny City Vocational School, as set out in the Terms of Reference, a copy of which is attached for your information. In view of the time that has elapsed since the establishment of the inquiry, the inquiry officer has been requested to...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, in September 2008 I decided that a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools should be undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation. The Technical Working Group established under the Commission to undertake this review commenced its work in December 2008. It is expected that the review of procedures for recognising primary schools...

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am in receipt of correspondence from the group to which the Deputy refers. I have arranged to meet this group in the next two weeks to discuss their concerns regarding the future funding arrangements of Protestant secondary schools.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the Local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the Local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been...

Written Answers — Higher Education: Higher Education (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, I have asked a high level strategy group under the chairmanship of Dr. Colin Hunt to review the operation of the higher education sector and to engage in a process of formulating a comprehensive vision for the sector and developing a strategic road map that will enable the system to respond to the continually evolving demands of Irish society and the economy. A...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local special educational needs organisers for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The council operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the names and...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently 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 is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The proposed...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The schedule of accommodation has been revised to include an autistic spectrum disorder unit. The revised schedule has been forwarded to the board of management and the design team. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: While my Department has no record of an application for emergency funding from the school to which the Deputy refers, the school made an application for funding to my Department under its temporary accommodation scheme. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been approved for the school under this scheme to either purchase or build two 80 sq. m. classrooms. This will allow the...

Written Answers — Denominational Schools: Denominational Schools (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 318 together. I am in receipt of correspondence from the group to which the Deputies refer. I have arranged to meet the group in the next two weeks to discuss its concerns about the future funding arrangements for Protestant secondary schools.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The site for the school referred to by the Deputy was acquired by way of a swap of lands between the Department and Westmeath County Council. Agreement, in principle, was reached between the Department and the Council in relation to the Department's contribution towards the provision of services/road infrastructure. I have requested my officials to make contact with the Council to ascertain...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for large scale capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed by the Planning and Building Unit of my Department. It has been assigned a band 2 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Due to the inclusion of part of the existing school building on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, it...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 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...