Results 6,801-6,820 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Mature Students: Mature Students (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 287, inclusive, and 289 together. The table below shows the number of mature students (23+) who entered third level institutions for the first time from 1998/1999 to 2008/2009 by sector. The proportion of all new entrants to higher education institutions in those years who were mature students is also shown. Data for mature new entrants to part-time...
- Written Answers — Mature Students: Mature Students (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Over the past decade there have also been sustained levels of investment in the access programmes of higher education institutions. Each university has a dedicated Mature Student Officer who will liaise directly with a mature student in relation to their needs. In addition each Institute of Technology has an Access Officer who has responsibility for assisting mature students. These programmes...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 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 a Band 1 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, I met with a delegation from this the school in question last November. Recently I have received a request from the VEC for a further meeting. I will consider this request in the context of my other diary commitments and respond shortly.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that on 12 February, 2009, I announced details of 25 projects to commence architectural planning. It was not possible to include the project for the school in question in that announcement. 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...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. More recently, the Department was informed by the School's Board of Management that the community has secured a three acre greenfield site and have drawn up plans for a new permanent school building. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. My Department will arrange to compile and forward the details requested as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is being prepared by my officials and I will have it conveyed to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The recently published Revised Programme for Government provide for a number of specific measures in the education sector including a commitment to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio for the lifetime of the Government, 500 teaching posts over the next three years, funding for 28 additional psychologist posts, standard capitation grants to schools being maintained and an extra...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of appropriate educational intervention and supports for children with special educational needs continues to be a key Government priority. This is reflected in the fact that my Department was the only Department other than Social Welfare that got an increase this year. The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all pupils,...
- Programme for Government. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The revised programme for Government provides for a number of specific measures in the education sector, including a commitment to no further increase in the pupil-teacher ratio for the lifetime of the Government; 500 teaching posts over the next three years; funding for 28 additional psychologist posts; standard capitation grants to schools being maintained and an extra allocation being made...
- Programme for Government. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The first thing is that we must understand to what the registration fee refers. It refers to the services delivered by the universities and institutes of education to students. The Government decided last year that the universities and institutes could charge up to â¬1,500 per student on the basis that they were delivering that level of service. Until then it was felt that the full cost...
- Programme for Government. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy asked me-----
- Programme for Government. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I needed, first, to outline for the Deputy what the registration fee was about because, judging from the numerous statements and press releases the Deputy issues from time to time, he seems not to understand its purpose.
- Programme for Government. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am not aware that third level institutes or universities have, up to now, requested an increase in the registration fee. However, all these issues are budgetary matters that will be determined by Government when dealing with the Estimates.
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 107 together. The published expenditure figures show that my Department's capital expenditure to the end of September is â¬455 million, which is â¬112 million behind the profiled or projected figure of â¬568 million. My Department's total budget in 2009 for primary, post-primary and third level capital is â¬841 million. Expenditure on the large...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: We are anxious to ensure that when we announce a project, it goes to construction as soon as possible. There are two reasons for the difficulty this year. One is the new form of contract. As the Deputy knows, these new contracts transferred major liability onto whoever was doing the construction. This new format created a difficulty in architectural and other offices with regard to...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The difficulty was such that we invited them to Tullamore to brief them and outline to them what was required. This caused a delay in its own right. I would like to see the projects up and running. However, the Deputy should understand there has been significant activity on the ground and it is only the major projects that are being held up. The summer works scheme, for example,-----
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: It is important for me to outline how the Department has moved ahead with over 1,200 summer works projects. The energy efficiency scheme has 1,500 projects up and running. All the devolved small local schemes are up and running and on schedule. While some of the bigger projects have been delayed, we are quite happy that the amount of money we have set aside for them will be required and...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am glad of the opportunity to be able to expand on what has been said here. I have saved something in the region of â¬14 million already on prefabs so far this year compared to last year. We are delighted with these savings. I introduced an initiative which gives the option of erecting a permanent structure as against a prefab, and 159 schools have taken up the option. A classroom can...