Results 7,901-7,920 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers has been tendered and the Tender Report forwarded to my Department. Following an assessment of this report some issues have arisen which require further clarification by the VEC. Once this clarification process is complete and assuming that no further issues arise; the project will progress to the construction stage. It is anticipated that construction...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Special Group on Public Services and Expenditure was established to examine current expenditure programmes in each Government Department and to make recommendations to Government for ensuring a return to sustainable public finances. I can confirm that there are no plans to undertake an immediate large-scale programme of small school closures at this time. The...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The closing date for the receipt of applications under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 was 27 November 2009. Following an assessment process, successful 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. In keeping with the timetable published in the governing Circular...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 223 and 227 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department operates a published prioritisation criteria system for major capital projects. Projects are assigned a band rating in accordance with these criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. A band rating reflects the type of works needed and the urgency...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers has been tendered and the Tender Report forwarded to my Department. Following an assessment of this report some issues have arisen which require further clarification by the VEC. Once this clarification process is complete and assuming that no further issues arise; the project will progress to the construction stage. It is anticipated that construction...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is understood from the Department of Social and Family Affairs that some 6,559 of their clients were in receipt of the BTEA Third Level Option in 2008/09 and 10,351 in 2009/10. However, not all BTEA recipients qualify for support under the student grant schemes. In relation to VTOS allowances, only those students pursuing PLC courses in dispersed mode are eligible to apply for a...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes, are administered by the Local Authorities and Vocational Education Committees' on behalf of my Department. The arrangement for the payment of grants and refunds of student service charges under the grant schemes are a matter for the administering authorities. Some 30 students who have been awarded a maintenance grant by County Meath VEC are awaiting...

Written Answers — International Students: International Students (17 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have recently established a high level group on international education, as part of the new framework for the promotion, co-ordination and regulation of international education in Ireland. The Government has requested that the High Level Group develop an action plan for enhanced performance, which should address the full range of issues relevant to the recruitment of international students...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised by my Department that a central list is not maintained of the agreements referred to by the Deputy. This reflects my Department's understanding that such practices do not generally occur on sites under my ownership. My Department is aware of a long standing agreement to allow a Montessori school occupy a portion of a school building in Dublin. It is my Department's intention to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is provided on a quarterly basis. Some 8,541 special needs assistants were employed in primary schools in March 2009. Some 8,392 special needs assistants were employed in primary schools in December 2009. In March 2009, some 2,012 special needs assistants were employed in all second level schools including VECs. Some 1,950 special needs assistants...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The current position with regard to the 78 projects I announced is as follows: 11 projects have been completed and handed over to the school authorities; 25 projects are under construction; 28 projects are at tender stage; and 14 projects are at pre-tender stage. I expect the 28 projects at tender stage to progress to construction in the first half of 2010. The 14 projects at pre-tender...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education has advised my Department that a response will issue to the Deputy within the coming week in relation to the matter raised by him.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: A reply has issued from my Department to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application to the Department for additional accommodation for September 2010. The application is under consideration by the Department and a decision will issue to the school in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The tender report has been received by my Department and is being examined. 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 — Local Contributions: Local Contributions (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the general funding arrangements for school building projects, the amount of the local contribution for extensions or refurbishments is 10% of the total project cost with the contribution being capped at €31,500. The level of the local contribution for schools with disadvantaged status is 5% of the project cost subject to a maximum amount of €12,500. The local contribution for new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for an extension to the school referred to by the Deputy and it is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band 2.5 rating. The progression of all large...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of our corporate social responsibility, and mindful that maintaining the blood donor panel is a major challenge, my Department has for many years supported the efforts of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). The IBTS normally contacts my Department on an annual basis appealing for voluntary blood donations. The personnel section e-mails all staff setting out the proposed date...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: At post-primary level, it is a fundamental principle of the Free Second Level Education Scheme that no charge be made in respect of:- (a) instruction in any subject of my Department's Programme for Secondary Schools; (b) recreation or study facilities where all pupils are expected to avail themselves of them as part of the school programme. (c) any other activity in which all pupils are...