Results 7,541-7,560 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (20 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the sale has closed on the above mentioned site. The further progression of the proposed project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to the Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently out to tender. It is anticipated that the project will be back on site before Easter.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the board of management was recently authorised to proceed to tender. When the tender process is complete and assuming there are no issues arising, the project will progress to construction. With regard to the ancillary information requested by the Deputy I can confirm that the brief for the project is for a new 16 classroom school, a permanent site...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently some 21,000 part-time undergraduate students enrolled in the university and institute of technology sectors. It is not known how many of these students would qualify under any extension of the Free Fees Initiative as this would be determined by the eligibility criteria that would apply to such a scheme, including for example, residency, nationality, previous higher...

Written Answers — Third Level Staff: Third Level Staff (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: For the purposes of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, UCC is a public service body. A public servant is defined in the Act as a person who is employed by, or holds any office or other position in, a public service body. Consequently, employees of UCC are comprehended by the Act. Remuneration payable by or on behalf of a public service body to its...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department does not provide specific grants to primary schools to fund swimming classes. I intend to streamline the different grant schemes that provide funding to primary and post-primary schools, both for ease of administration and to ensure that school management has greater autonomy over the funding provided. Therefore, capitation funding provided for general running costs and...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's child protection guidelines for schools are based on Children First – the Department of Health & Children's national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children. In accordance with a school's duty of care to it pupils, each school authority should have in place appropriate practices and procedures to ensure the safety and protection of its pupils in all aspects...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the school authority has been in telephone contact with the Building Unit of my Department concerning a problem with the water tanks. I understand that an application for emergency funding will be submitted in the near future. When this application is received it will be assessed without delay and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jan 2010)

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 for an extension and refurbishment project. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.1 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, officials in my Department met with the Trustees of the school to which he refers. The Trustees expressed some concern about the future of the school and it is my understanding that they are considering a number of options in this regard. The Department understands that the Trustees have met with the Board of Management, staff and representatives of parents from...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is currently awaiting receipt of the Supplementary Tender Report from the school's Design Team. Assuming that there are no issues arising from that Report, the project will be authorised to proceed to the award of a contract.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring schools. If the teacher is not required on a given day to...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together. The present position is that I have received individual responses from the 18 religious congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, to the call for them to make further substantial contributions by way of reparation, following publication of the Ryan Report. I will be bringing details of the congregations' offers of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jan 2010)

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 (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with section 14 of the Education Act, it is the duty of a school patron, to appoint where practicable a board of management the composition of which is agreed between patrons of schools, national associations of parents, recognised school management organisations, recognised trade unions and staff associations representing teachers and the Minister. Under the existing agreed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that I previously announced 78 projects to progress to tender and construction and all these projects are proceeding. The current position of these projects is as follows; 10 projects have reached practical\substantial completion 28 projects are under construction 23 projects are at tender stage 17 projects are at pre-tender stage I expect the 23 projects currently...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I stated in my reply to the Deputy in Question 326 on Wednesday 20 January 2010, dialogue with the Protestant community about issues of concern is ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that I have repeatedly stated my, and the Government's, commitment to supporting Protestant education while at the same time ensuring that funding arrangements for schools under Protestant management are in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jan 2010)

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 has been assigned a band rating of 3. There is no deficit of mainstream accommodation at the school and the application relates to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Details on prefab units for County Cavan and Monaghan are provided in the table below. The overall policy goal is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, I'm sure the Deputy will appreciate that in the context of a rapidly increasing school population, the necessity to put additional accommodation in place in a short time-frame and competing...