Results 7,301-7,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved €120,000 in grant-aid for the replacement of a prefab with a permanent classroom in 2008. The project was completed and the funding issued in 2008. Earlier this year the school was approved for further funding, this time under the Emergency Works Scheme, to replace some of the school windows. These works have also been completed and the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the deputy refers, was included in the list of 25 major school building projects which I announced on the 12 of February last to enter into architectural planning. Officials in my Department are currently assessing the most appropriate construction model for this project. I anticipate that my officials will be in contact with the school authorities shortly.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Dec 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been approved to progress to tender and construction and is currently at stage 2a of architectural planning. In late April, the Department issued detailed comments on the stage 2a submission (developed sketch design) and requested additional information from the design team relating to the project. This was received in June and...

Written Answers — Summer Works Scheme: Summer Works Scheme (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The closing date for the receipt of applications under the summer works scheme 2010 was 27 November 2009. 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 governing circular letter, I...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 381 together. The project to which the Deputies refer is at an early stage of architectural planning. Officials from my Department recently visited the school and discussed the project with representatives from the school and the design team. Following the meeting, it was agreed that the design team would proceed to submit proposals for an...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 379 together. My Department has held a series of meetings in recent months with the City Council and the local GAA club in relation to the possibility of leasing local authority lands that are currently leased by the GAA Club. In July 2009, the response of the City Council to the Department's proposed design of the new school building was forwarded to...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to refer to clause 2.2 and 2.3 of the Higher Education Grants Scheme 2009 and Clause 2.1 and 2.2 of the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme 2009. Clause 2.2 states: 2.2 A candidate shall not be eligible to hold a grant under this Scheme if he/she holds: (i) a scholarship/grant awarded by another Local Authority, a Vocational Education Committee or the Department of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. The position is that the Third Level Student Support Schemes operated under my Department do not extend to postgraduate study...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The process of assessing eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant Local Authority or VEC. Both VECs and local authorities are experiencing pressures due to the increased workload associated with the increased demand for the schemes, particularly in the context of the recruitment moratorium in the public sector which, in some instances, is affecting...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school premises to which the Deputy refers was retained for educational use after the school closed in 2007 with City of Dublin VEC, as the anchor tenant for the premises. The VEC was charged with ascertaining and regularising the status of any arrangements which were in place with third-parties at the time for the use of some parts of the building. The VEC is providing further...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the total paid in Redress Board Awards from inception to the end of November is €800,749,870. The total third party legal costs associated with these awards and including the costs for those applicants who took High Court actions is €148,506,089. A detailed breakdown of other expenditure of the Board including the amount in legal fees of counsel employed...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The organisation and management of student support schemes grants is a matter for individual Vocational Educational Committees and Local Authorities. These bodies seek to ensure that students get decisions on their grant applications and are paid as soon as possible. The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the Local Authority or...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, in the context of discussion with my Department regarding overall funding and proposals for fee changes at a sectoral level, third level institutions are autonomous bodies and may determine the level of fees to be charged in cases where the Free Fees Schemes do not apply. As such, post-graduate level fees are set by individual higher education institutions. In the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of both the primary and second level school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. The second-level programme in Irish has the capacity to cater for a wide diversity of ability. The programme currently includes a Foundation level Irish syllabus, which is specifically designed for those pupils who are experiencing difficulty with the subject. Under certain circumstances, school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The School to which the Deputy refers made two applications to the Department in the 2008. The first application, in February 2008, was for large scale capital funding to provide a classroom, a resource room, a GP room and ancillary facilities. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.4...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate tuition for children of school going age awaiting an educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism where no educational placement is available. I wish first of all to advise the Deputy that the tuition grant for the child in question...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate tuition for children of school going age awaiting an educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism where no educational placement is available. The position is that a number of educational placements have recently become available in a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 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 needs. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within...