Results 7,881-7,900 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 a person is liable to pay the pension related deduction if he or she is a public servant on or after 1 March 2009 and is a member of a public service pension scheme, is entitled to a benefit under such a scheme or receives a payment in lieu of membership of such a scheme. Where a public servant, including a...

Written Answers — Third Level Participation: Third Level Participation (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Participation by Irish students in higher education is continuing to increase. There is no cap on student numbers and higher education institutions have been responding to increasing demand by increasing the number of places they offer. In this regard, in 2009/10 acceptances of a place through the CAO increased by 8.3% on 2008/09. I have established a High Level Group to facilitate a...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have no plans to introduce a general book loan scheme, as suggested by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has not estimated the cost of introducing such a scheme. The Deputy 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 Deputy that €7.65m of additional...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, prior to the introduction of the free fees initiative, the standard practice had been that the charge for examinations, registration and student services was included with the tuition fee as a single payment. In acknowledgement of the variation in the arrangements that existed in the colleges, a standardised charge was levied by the third level institutions, in the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: This case is somewhat complex and involves the reckoning of service which historically was not pensionable but which can now be made pensionable as a result of recent improvements in the superannuation provisions. In addition, the person in question gave service, many years ago, with another public service employer which may be capable of being transferred to count for the purposes of her...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 625 together. My Department has received correspondence from the person in question and has outlined the position in relation to his child's enrolment in the school concerned. The person has been advised that in the event that a disagreement arises between parents or guardians in relation to the enrolment of a child, it is a matter to be resolved...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: A revised Stage 2b (i.e. detailed design) was requested by my Department in January 2010. Upon receipt of this submission and assuming that no further issues arise the project will proceed to tender.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers was recently tendered. The Design Team is currently addressing a number of post tender clarifications with the preferred bidder. When this process is complete and assuming that no further issues arise the project will proceed to construction. It is anticipated that the project will commence construction in Quarter 2 of 2010.

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — Ministerial Orders: Ministerial Orders (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested must be compiled from details supplied by line sections within my Department. The details in question have been sought from all line sections and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as the relevant information is to hand.

Written Answers — Ministerial Orders: Ministerial Orders (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested must be compiled from details supplied by line sections within my Department. The details in question have been sought from all line sections and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as the relevant information is to hand.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy. The appeal was made on the grounds of a reduction in income. My Department examined the appeal and the decision of the assessing authority was upheld. The income in the case of the candidate referred to by the Deputy exceeds the reckonable income limits for the 2009 Schemes. The candidate in question may...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers made an application for a new school building in May 2005. The Department delivered an 8 classroom building in 2009 as the first phase of the project to meet the school needs. Forward Planning Section of the Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Higher Education Grants Scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student support schemes to part-time courses. The decision on eligibility for student...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that an application under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been received from the School to which the Deputy refers. 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. The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Abair Leat resource was developed by Coláiste Lurgan, an independent college which organises summer Irish courses designed to cater primarily for post-primary students who wish to improve their competence in the Irish language. The Abair Leat website was designed to support Coláiste Lurgan's students in consolidating the Irish they learned while attending Coláiste Lurgan and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (16 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since 2008 my Department has undertaken a number of measures as part of the Government's programme for the rationalisation of agencies. Most recently in January 2010, two bodies that were under the aegis of my Department, the International Education Board Ireland (IEBI) and Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) ceased operations. The functions of the IEBI have been...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning Permission was received for the new school building in 2009. A delegation from the school and its design team recently attended a briefing by my Department on the completion of stage 2(b) of architectural planning. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this project was included in my...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Remote Area Grant scheme, provision exists for the payment of grants in respect of pupils whose normal place of residence is outside the range of public transport services to a school providing suitable free second-level education. This scheme of grants was introduced in conjunction with the free post-primary education scheme in the 1967/68 school year. The purpose of the scheme is...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department disburses the Protestant Block grant, which amounted to €6.5 million in 2009. It covers capitation, tuition and boarding costs and is distributed through the Secondary Education Committee, established by the Protestant churches involved in the provision of education. This fund ensures that necessitous Protestant children can attend a school of their choice. The boarding...