Results 7,961-7,980 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which the Deputy refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of projects authorised to prepare tender documents. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning Permission was received in November 2009. Subsequently, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) contacted the VEC and my Department...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of projects which have been authorised to prepare tender documents. Earlier this month, a delegation from the school and its design team attended a briefing by my Department on the completion of stage 2(b) of architectural planning. The Design Team have been authorised to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February I announced details of 51 major school building projects that will appoint design teams this year. I am pleased to inform the deputy that the project in question is scheduled to have a Design Team appointed in the third quarter of 2010. My Department will contact the school in due course. Details on all of these projects are available on my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he 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 assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he 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 assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: There has been no change to the scheme under which posts of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to schools to enable them to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities. I wish to assure the Deputy that schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for support under this scheme will continue to be allocated SNA posts. However, where the pupils concerned have left the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is at present carrying out a review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations in all schools. The purpose of this review is to ensure that all SNA posts meet the criteria governing the allocation of such posts, as outlined in my Department's...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: At my behest the Higher Education Authority examined the matter to which the Deputy refers. The Authority assured my Department that funding for the development in question was provided by a single donor who has a long-term relationship with the University and who has supported its original vision and mission. The Authority further confirmed that the funding was provided specifically and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information is currently being compiled and will be issued shortly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Aitheantais Scoile: Aitheantais Scoile (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá i gceist agam Ceisteanna Uimhir 200 go Uimhir 205 a thógáil le chéile. Tá ról maighdeogach le himirt ag an mbunscolaíocht i gcaomhnú agus i leathnú na céad teanga oifigiúla. Bhí cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ina haidhm mhór ariamh ag Rialtais na hÉireann i ndiaidh a chéile agus cosnaíodh i gcónaí a hionad sa chóras oideachais. Comhartha air seo an chaoi inar aithníodh...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 Feb 2010)

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. Given the increase in the birth rate in recent years the initial focus of this analysis is on primary school accommodation requirements and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Design Team for the school to which the Deputy refers has been authorised to commence the award process. Subject to the lowest tenderer addressing various issues (e.g. evidence of bond, insurances, tax clearance etc.) the contract will be awarded and the project will proceed to construction. It is envisaged that the completion contractor will be on site before Easter. With regard to the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Additional information in relation to the tender report, for the school to which the Deputy refers, was received recently by my Department and is currently being assessed. I expect my officials to be in contact with the VEC shortly authorising them to commence the award process.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 218, inclusive, 220, 223 to 234, inclusive, 236 and 237 together. The information on capital expenditure in the Primary and Post-Primary sectors in respect of the various sub-programmes that constitute the School Building Programme is summarised in the attached tabular format. The total expenditure on the primary and post primary capital subhead was...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 238 to 251, inclusive, together. SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME 2009 - EXPENDITURE SUMMARY SUB-PROGRAMMES PRIMARY POST-PRIMARY (€m) (€m) LARGE SCALE PROJECTS 104.809 62.369 SITE PURCHASES 24.63 24.806 PAS AND SSS SCHEMES 2005-2007 33.78 2.586 ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION 30.1 9.265 EMERGENCY WORKS 35.109 32.187 REMEDIATION 5.268 3.575 FURNITURE...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In November last year I published the 'Smart Schools = Smart Economy' report, which is the new action plan for integrating ICT in schools. As a first step in implementing the recommendations of the report, €22m in ICT grants was issued to primary schools. In total 3,215 schools received funding under this scheme. In addition to this, €1.5 million of Dormant Account funding was allocated...

Written Answers — Digital Schools Award: Digital Schools Award (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Digital Schools Award recognises excellence in a school's approach to the integration of ICT in learning and teaching. The award scheme was launched in 2006 and aims to build on the progress already made by schools in ICT integration and to encourage them to strive for further progression. To achieve a Digital Schools Award, each participating school must fulfil identified criteria which...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Design Team for the school to which the Deputy refers has been authorised to commence the award process. Subject to the lowest tenderer addressing various issues (e.g. evidence of bond, insurance, tax clearance etc.) the contract will be awarded and the project will proceed to construction. It is envisaged that the completion contractor will be on site before Easter.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Maintenance Grant Schemes and the Free Fees Initiative, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the applicant's local...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.