Results 7,001-7,020 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications is a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. Consequently, the issue of conversion courses is a matter for the council in the first instance. I have no plans to establish such a course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 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 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The pension scheme for first and second level teachers are unfunded defined benefit schemes. There is no pension fund nor are contributions by teachers invested. Like many other public sector pension schemes, the teachers' schemes operate on a pay-as-you-go basis. Pension contributions are credited as appropriations to the Vote for the Department of Education and Science in the year in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As outlined previously to the Deputy, rental grant-in-aid is provided to schools where original invoices for rental costs are submitted for payment to my Department's Planning and Building Unit. My Department has paid 99.6% of the overall rental grant-aid due for temporary school rental costs for the January to June 2009 period. 92% of schools have been paid to date for the July - December...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following publication of the Ryan Report, this House passed a unanimous motion on 28th May, 2009 calling on the congregations to commit to making further substantial contributions by way of reparation, in the context of discussions with the State, including to a Trust to be set up and managed by the State for the support of victims and to other education and welfare purposes. The Taoiseach...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are various arrangements in place at primary and post-primary level that facilitate the sharing of posts between schools in areas such as resource teaching posts, home school liaison co-ordinator posts, Guidance Counsellor posts etc. The sharing of resources is also encouraged through the curricular concession process which enables priority to be given to applications for curriculum...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 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 in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 Nov 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 — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department undertook a Radon Remediation Programme, commencing in 1998 when it commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) to conduct a survey of radon levels in all primary and post primary schools. The programme involved surveying radon levels in schools and carrying out mitigation works where appropriate. The Radon Remediation Programme is administrated by...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 442, 491 and 492 together. The Government allocated €1m in March 2008 from the Dormant Accounts Educational Disadvantage Programme for a scheme to assist 100 disadvantaged schools to progress towards achieving Digital Schools Status, this was subsequently increased to €1.6m in December, 2008 in the expectation that the scheme would be heavily...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together. My Department has received correspondence from the person in question and has outlined the position in relation to his child's enrolment in the school concerned. The person has been advised that the enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school and that in the event that a disagreement...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department has received an application for major capital funding, from the school to which the Deputy refers, for the provision of an extension. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 2.1 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A letter was received from the school in question seeking the provision of two prefabricated classrooms and a science laboratory. An application form has been issued to the school for completion. On receipt of the completed application the matter will receive urgent attention.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provided an 8 classroom school building with ancillary accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy as Phase I of the delivery of the school's permanent accommodation in order to meet the need for additional school places in the area. This school building was delivered as part of my Department's fast-track programme of construction and culminated in the opening of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 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 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My department has liaised with the Health Service Executive and the management bodies for education establishments to jointly develop specific advice and guidance that may be required by schools for their management of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. This information is available on my department's website. In part this practical information is encouraging schools to facilitate everyday actions that...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has carried out substantial building works in the area to which the Deputy refers to re-organise its educational provision and to provide for its long term primary and post primary accommodation needs. The progression of the remaining projects to complete this process will be considered in the context of my Department's multi annual school building and modernisation programme....

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The amalgamation of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) was announced as part of the Government's programme for the rationalisation of agencies. The new organisation will also take responsibility for the external quality assurance review of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As at 1 May 2009 there were 74 (73 full time equivalent) officials at principal officer level or higher working in my Department. As well as administrative staff, this includes non-administrative/professional grades at principal officer level or higher e.g. staff of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and of the Inspectorate.