Results 6,981-7,000 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 255, inclusive, together. Details in relation to the school building projects which were approved to proceed to construction each year for the past five years, when they were announced to proceed and the projects which have been completed to date are currently being compiled and I will arrange for them to be forwarded to the Deputy shortly. To date in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme is divided into a number of component elements or sub programmes. These include Large Scale Building Projects (new school buildings and major extensions/refurbishments); Summer Works Scheme; Emergency Works; Site Acquisitions; Remediation Programmes (asbestos removal, radon mitigation); Furniture and Equipment; provision of Temporary...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position with regard to the 78 projects which I announced in late 2008 and early 2009 is as follows: 7 projects have reached practical completion stage, 15 projects are under construction, 31 projects are at various stages of the tendering process and 25 projects are at pre-tender stage. Of the 31 projects currently at various stages of the tendering process it is difficult to give a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Additional design team fees have been and are being incurred due to the change to the new form of public contract and these will be funded by my Department. As these additional fees are currently being negotiated with the relevant consultants on a case by case basis, I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the amounts already agreed due to the commercial sensitivity of these...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is 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 project will be considered in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The current vacancies in the Department's offices in Athlone and Tullamore are as follows: Athlone Assistant Principal Officer - 1 Higher Executive Officer - 1 Executive Officer - 2 Staff Officer - 2 Clerical Officer - 2 Tullamore Assistant Principal Officer - 2 Higher Executive Officer - 0.5 Executive Officer - 7.1 Clerical Officer - 1 Above figures given as whole time equivalents. Vacancies...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: One principal retired from a secondary school in Tipperary North Riding in the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 October 2009. This single retirement represents 12.5% of the number of secondary school principals in Tipperary North Riding. It should be noted that this figure is based on the number of secondary schools in Tipperary North Riding rather than by reference to the constituency...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers was recently tendered. The school's Design Team is currently preparing the Tender Report. When this report is completed and submitted to my Department it will be assessed by the Profession and Technical staff of the Building Unit. Provided there are no issues arising therefrom the school will be authorised to proceed to the construction stage.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. Two new school buildings, which will be operated by Co. Kildare Vocational Educational Committee, are being delivered for the schools referred to by the Deputy. One of the buildings is complete and the other is under construction and is due to be completed by the end of this year. The brief for both buildings includes the provision of...

Written Answers — Grangegorman Development Agency: Grangegorman Development Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. The Grangegorman Development Agency was established under Section 8 of the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005. The general aim of the Agency is to oversee the development of the lands at Grangegorman on behalf of the Departments of Education and Science, Health and Children, Dublin Institute of Technology and the Health Services...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers was one of ten projects that I 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 revised tender and associated documentation. Accordingly, in July following the receipt of compliant revised documentation, the project was authorised to go...

Written Answers — School Grants: School Grants (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy may be aware that I had a constructive meeting with Protestant educational representatives on 21 October. I explained that a simple reversal of the measures taken in Budget 2008 applicable to all Protestant fee-charging schools and determined solely on a denominational criterion was not legally possible. I again made clear that I am prepared to work with the Protestant...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The process of assessing eligibility for third level grants and the organisation, management and payment of student grants are matters for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies seek to ensure students get decisions on their grant applications and are paid as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Adjustments to the arrangements for meeting the Irish language requirements for teachers trained outside the jurisdiction has involved a transfer of responsibilities to the Teaching Council and revised arrangements with the college. I understand that the Teaching Council has been in contact with the college and that the forms will issue shortly.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Health Service Executive is monitoring; and publishes on a weekly basis, the number of cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, including the number of outbreaks within schools. The general position regarding school openings and closures is set out in department circulars 11/95, M29/95, and 107/2007. In relation to this pandemic, to date the consistent advice issued to the schools is that unless...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he 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 2 rating. Information on the current school building programme, along with all assessed applications for major capital...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is considering a number of broad policy issues relating to the recognition process for second level schools. The application from Educate Together to be recognised as a patron body at second level is being fully examined within the context of legal, financial and other factors that I must consider.

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Board: Residential Institutions Redress Board (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The panel appointed by the Government to assess the statements of resources submitted by the religious congregations following the publication of the Ryan report has submitted its report. The report is under examination prior to being submitted to the Government. As indicated previously, it is intended that the conclusions of the panel will be made public.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The forward planning section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the 2014-15 school year. When the required reports have been completed for the initial areas selected, the forward planning section will continue to work on preparing...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an appeal on 2 November 2009 from the candidate referred to by the Deputy. The appeal is under review. It is anticipated that a reply will issue to the student shortly.