Results 7,341-7,360 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a detailed analysis of the entire country, including the counties referred to by the Deputy, to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision over the coming years. This study indicated that the requirement for additional primary provision in years...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to student grants awarded, including renewals, and new applications is attached and has been supplied to my Department by the local authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Local Authority New Applications Received 2009/10 as at 26/11/2009 Carlow 188 Cavan 329 Clare 603 Cork City 553 Cork Co 1431 Donegal 655 ...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 350 together. The Deputies will be aware that the Renewed Programme for Government provides for funding to be made available to allow schools to provide grant assistance for books. I am pleased to inform the Deputies that €7.65m of additional grant support has been made available as a result of the Budget for 2010, which is in addition to the €7m...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 337, inclusive, together. As I have indicated previously to the House, I am currently in the process of reviewing my Department's school building and modernisation programme with my officials in the context of the Estimates for 2010. This will take into account contractual commitments which will be carried into 2010 from this year's programme. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. This project has a band 1.1 rating and includes the provision of an enhanced community facility in conjunction with Fingal County Council. The Stage 2a has recently been approved and the Design Team has been authorised to begin work on Stage 2(b) (Detailed Design) for submission to the...

Written Answers — Summer Works Scheme: Summer Works Scheme (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that it is my intention to have a Summer Works Scheme in 2010. Applications for funding under the scheme have been invited from schools and these applications are currently being processed in my Department. The amount of funding to be allocated to the Summer Works Scheme in 2010 has not yet been finalised as the breakdown of funding under the various elements of...

Written Answers — Scéim Tógála Scoileanna: Scéim Tógála Scoileanna (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Is maith liom a chur in iúl don Teachta gur faomhadh Céim 2b (dearadh mionsonraithe), don tionscadal dá dtagraítear, ar 10ú Nollaig 2009. Eiseofar údarú chun dul ar aghaidh go dtí Céim 3 (céim na tairisceana) go gairid.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 to 345, inclusive, together. At the end of last year there were 247 major capital projects in architectural planning up to and including stage 4 - in construction. Currently there are 251 major capital projects in architectural planning up to and including stage 4 - in construction. These include the 25 major projects which I announced earlier this year...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. To qualify for the Special...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is working closely with local authorities and VECs on a number of initiatives, some of which are already leading to administrative efficiencies and alleviating some of the pressures on awarding authorities. These initiatives, which will also enhance the level of service to students, include improvements to the grant application process, the provision of advance payments for...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Renewed Programme for Government commits the Government to providing 500 teaching posts between primary and post primary levels over the next three years commencing with 200 posts in the current school year and 150 posts in each of the next two school years. Following the publication of the renewed Programme for Government my Department sought written submissions from the education...

Written Answers — Summer Works Scheme: Summer Works Scheme (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The closing date for the receipt of applications under the Summer Works Scheme 2010, including Water Conservation measures, was 27 November 2009. In excess of 2,300 applications were received and these are currently being sorted and logged in my Department. I will be in a position to provide a breakdown of the applications, as requested by the Deputy, when the sorting and logging is...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of, and demand for primary teachers. The post graduate course was introduced as a response to a shortage in the supply of primary teachers. It was first provided in the 1995/96 academic year and has been repeated almost each year since then. The course has not...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The supply teacher scheme at primary level will cease from the start of the 2010/11 school year. Normal substitution arrangements which apply to primary schools generally to cover teacher absences will be used to cover substitution in those schools that participated in the scheme. From the start of the 2010/11 school year, the maximum number of uncertified sick leave days allowed in the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Student Support 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. In relation to the Programme of Legislative and Administrative Reform of Student Grants, my Department engages on an on-going basis with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The application for this project was received in my Department on 22 June 1999. Representatives from the school and the design team attended a stage 2(b) briefing which was held in my Department's office in Tullamore on 26 November. The Design Team is currently working on the documentation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the above school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The application was received on 22 October 2002. 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 my Department's capital budget. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The application was received on 30 August 1997. The project has been approved to progress to stage 2(a) and my Department is currently awaiting the submission of stage 2a documentation from the Design team. The proposed building project will be considered in the context of the Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 389 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Stage 2b (detailed design), for the project referred to, was approved on 10th December 2009. Authorisation to proceed to Stage 3 (tender stage) will issue shortly.