Results 7,821-7,840 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The closing date for receipt of tenders was 25th January 2010. The Design Team are currently assessing the tenders and will issue a Tender Report shortly for my Department to consider. When the tender process is complete and assuming there are no issues arising the project will progress to construction. It is envisaged that the completion contractor will be on site before Easter.

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, I have established a High Level Group to develop a new national strategy for higher education, which will examine how well Ireland's higher education system is performing, how it ranks internationally, how well existing resources are being used and how the system should be configured to best meet the many challenges it faces over the next decade having regard to the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 251 together. The school to which the Deputies refer has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment project. In common with all such applications, this application has been assessed against my Department's published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. It has been assigned a Band...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that there has been no reduction in the allocation provided in the Book of Estimates. In fact the allocation provides for the expected increase in enrolments at primary level. The amount of grant paid to an individual primary school for ancillary services is determined by the school's enrolment, subject to a minimum grant in respect of schools with enrolments up...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has no record of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. If the Deputy would supply the relevant contact details a response will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Co. Dublin VEC has not sought approval from my Department for additional staffing resources to deal with the processing of higher education grants. In that regard, the Deputy is of course aware of the Government decision to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium in the public sector. In respect of Vocational Education Committees, including County Dublin VEC, positions other than...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together. The selection and appointment procedures for posts of responsibility in VEC schools are agreed between the respective school management bodies, the teacher unions and my Department and are set out in circular letters issued by my Department. The filling of promotion posts in VEC schools is primarily a matter for the Chief Executive...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. As the Deputy may be aware, in September 2008 I announced a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools under the Commission on School Accommodation. It is expected that the review of procedures for recognising primary schools will be completed and revised arrangements will be in place within a two year time...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for permanent recognition in October 2008 which was the 2008/09 school year. When it applied for temporary recognition initially, the school supported its application with a projected enrolment of 232 pupils for the 2008/09 school year. The actual enrolment was 105 pupils. Its enrolment in the current school year is understood to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I met with the school to which the Deputy refers last year and the school authority is aware that it will be provided with a new school building. In this regard, the proposed project has a Band 1 rating, which is the highest possible priority rating under my Department's published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and the project will proceed as soon as the funding is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The swimming pool to which the Deputy refers is privately owned and managed and my Department has no role to play in resourcing such facilities.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. The Teaching Council considers applications to be registered as a teacher in the further education sector under Regulation 5 of the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, which I...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department has received an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Payment of grant aid under the Home Tuition Scheme is made by my Department upon receipt of a completed claim form. The person to whom the Deputy refers, submitted a claim form that was received by my Department on the 21st January 2010. Payment is expected to issue shortly.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 255, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 265, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be sent to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 274, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him.

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The OECD Review of Migrant Education, Ireland Country Report, is one of a series of reports arising from the OECD's thematic review of migrant education. The report considers five key "policy orientations" that Ireland should consider in providing an "inclusive, high quality education for all students" against a background of changing inward migration patterns, particularly between 2000 and...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (11 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. The information sought by the Deputy is set out on the table. This information which relates to the 2008/09 school year is provided through the annual census of primary schools. The data for the current school year (2009/2010) is currently being compiled by my Department and the final outcome will be available later in the year. Schools...