Results 7,321-7,340 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There are four primary school projects in County Waterford currently on the construction programme. They are: 1. Holy Cross School, Ballycarnane, Tramore (new school), 2. Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lismore (extension), 3. Campus Project at Carrickphierish (new schools for Gaelscoil na Deise and Waterford Educate Together NS incorporating enhanced facilities for shared community use). All...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for Major Capital funding for an extension including ancillary accommodation. 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...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently 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...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together. An application for Planning Permission forms part of stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of planning permission for those projects in architectural planning is contained in the attached tabular statement. In addition, there are almost 1200 applications for major capital...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. There are currently 26 school building projects involving 28 schools at Stage 4 (details attached). A further 26 projects involving 28 schools have been completed in 2009. County Roll Number Name\Address Brief Clare 14830U Barefield N.S., Ennis Extension/Refurbishment Donegal 16642G Clonmany Mixed NS New School Building Donegal...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the amalgamation of the schools in question was agreed in principle a number of years ago. Officials from my Department have met with the Trustees of the schools to discuss an offer by the Diocesan Trust of a site for purchase in relation to the proposed amalgamation. The acquisition of the site for the schools in question will be considered in the context of...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The issue of including Bethany Home in the redress scheme has previously been considered but it was decided it should not be included. My Department is examining further information submitted to it in relation to Bethany Home together with a renewed request for its inclusion. This examination will be completed as soon as possible.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning permission was granted in November. Representatives from the VEC, the school and the design team attended a stage 2(b) briefing which was held in my Department Offices in Tullamore on 9 December 2009. The school has now been authorised to progress to stage 2b (detailed design). The proposed...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my Department's policy not to build on flood plains. I am not aware of any new schools in the Dublin area that are being built on flood plains.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The position in relation to the 78 school projects announced to go to tender and construction in 2009 is as follows: 7 projects have reached practical completion, 21 projects are currently under construction, 30 projects are at tender and the remaining 20 projects are pre-tender. I expect that up to 5 further projects will commence on site before the end of 2009. The balance of the projects...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of persons who are on regular teaching contracts of employment within primary and secondary/community/comprehensive schools and are being paid at the untrained rate are as follows: Primary 129 Post Primary 33 Contracts of employment are sometimes offered to teachers pending verification of their qualifications with the Teaching Council. On receipt of this verification, their...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Inspectorate conducted a thematic evaluation of the provision for English as an Additional Language (EAL) in 30 primary schools and 15 post-primary schools in 2008. Each school was issued with an individual report setting out the findings and recommendations relating to EAL provision in the school. General findings and conclusions from this evaluation activity have been included as part...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. The level of extra teaching support provided in respect of language support to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible pupils enrolled and the associated assessed levels of these pupils' language proficiency. This is done through an annual application process in the Spring/Summer of each year. Following on from the Government...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 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 school year 2014/2015. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (15 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Cashel and Emly Diocesan Trust Limited, is the full owner of the property referred to by the Deputy. My Department holds a 99 year lease on the property.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, we have not yet reached the end of the financial year so the final position regarding capital expenditure in the primary and post-primary sector is not yet known. However, as previously indicated, I expect that schools' capital expenditure in 2009 will be less than the corresponding allocation. I have discussed the matter with the Minister for Finance and agreement...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together. Under the student maintenance grant schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for financial assistance where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, age, nationality and previous academic attainment. For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is attached and has been supplied to my Department by County Cork Vocational Education Committee. My Department acknowledges that some students are experiencing delays in the processing of their grant applications. It is understood that both local authorities and VECs, the awarding bodies for student grants, received an unprecedented number of student...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not been contacted by the Embassy concerned in relation to the establishment of the proposed school referred to by the Deputy.