Results 7,281-7,300 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department utilises the latest in GIS technology to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The Geographical Information System contains information on all schools in the country, primary and post primary level, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 1998, in recognition of the pivotal contribution made by US Senator George J. Mitchell to the Northern Ireland peace process, the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme was established and the Government agreed to contribute an endowment of IR£2 million to the Programme. The purpose of the Programme is to enable highly qualified American students to attend third level institutions on the...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (3 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 255, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of teachers paid pass or honours degree allowances and teaching the specific subjects referred to is not available from my Departments payroll databases. However, there were six thousand nine hundred and eighty two teachers employed in secondary community or...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible. I can confirm to the Deputy that there are no regulators under the control of my Department.

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that €22 million in ICT grants was issued to primary schools at the end of November, with the priority on ensuring that there is a teaching computer and digital projector in every classroom. Purchase of this ICT equipment will be under public procurement operations carried out by the schools. The purchase of ICT equipment and associated products and services by the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The Bill makes provision for the transfer of responsibility for student grants to the VEC sector. In the existing budgetary situation, resources are not...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Capitation grants to primary schools are paid in two instalments. The first instalment is based on 70% of the grant due from enrolment figures for the previous school year. This payment is made in January. The second instalment is the balance due to the schools based on enrolment in the current school year. This payment is made in June. In the case of Post-Primary schools capitation...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since the beginning of the year the Government has launched a number of new initiatives to support unemployed people return to education and engage in upskilling. In the higher education sector this includes the provision of 2,500 places to enable unemployed people to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses on a part-time basis. All 2,500 places are on courses that support the goals of...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In October of this year I announced the provision of €4.2 million in grants for high-tech equipment as part of the Government's continuing efforts to make technology an integral part of the learning process. Schools where major construction work was completed this year and last year will each get €5,000 per classroom to buy computer hardware, software and digital equipment. The...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A reply has issued to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy by the Higher Education - Equity Of Access Unit of my Department.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. NEPS in common with other psychological services encourages a staged assessment process...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials visited the location in question recently. The information sought by the Deputy will be forwarded to him in the coming days.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (9 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office as follows: 2 Special Advisors, one of whom has responsibility for press and communications; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers; 3 Clerical Officers. Their total annual salaries in 2009 are approximately €445,766 and their expenses to date in 2009 are €17,276. There are currently 4.8 officers in my Constituency Office...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Representatives from the school and its design team recently attended a briefing by my Department on the requirements for completing stage 2(b) of architectural planning, following which the project was approved to progress to stage 2(b). The proposed building project will be considered in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of my Department's student grant and free fees schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants and free tuition fees where they satisfy the prescribed conditions of the individual schemes, including those relating to means, residency, nationality and previous academic attainment. In general, students who previously pursued a...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the Department has received an application under the Summer Works Scheme from the school to which the Deputy refers. Following an assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme. In keeping with the timetable published with the...

Written Answers — School Textbooks: School Textbooks (10 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department does not approve or prescribe types of textbook or workbook to be used by schools. I can assure the Deputy that I have consistently urged schools to implement book rental schemes, which are the most effective means of lowering costs for parents and ensuring that books are recycled. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. School authorities have been advised...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that the school in question has applied to the National Council Special Education for an SNA. The Special Educational Needs Organiser will advise the school of the outcome of the application once it has been fully considered.

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (10 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement. Home tuition grants are paid to the parents, who in turn make payment to the home tuition...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (10 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Colleges of Education accept students of all faiths and none on the Bachelor of Education programmes. Places on the programme are allocated, in the main, through the CAO system. While actual course content varies from college to college, the B.Ed prepares students to teach in a range of school settings and this is reflected in teaching practice placements and in the content of the...