Results 8,081-8,100 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issue raised by the Deputy would primarily arise at post-primary level. The system that he is seeking to introduce is already in place. Under current arrangements post-primary schools that are over quota have their allocations for pupils with special educational needs dealt with through the offsetting of existing over quota posts rather than the allocation of additional posts. This policy...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the details sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 authority or VEC. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to address details of the case...

Written Answers — Second Level Schools: Second Level Schools (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the information he requires is available on my Department's website. Schools within the free education scheme that also have a boarding facility are assigned the classification "3" on the database of post-primary schools, which is found under the "Education Service Provider" heading.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project for the school in question, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Students currently in receipt of the BTEA or VTOS allowances and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the relevant grant schemes. Students progressing to a new course with effect from 2010/11 will no longer be eligible for student maintenance grants but can...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 765 and 766 together. My Department is reconfiguring the delivery of support for teachers in light of the current resource available. However, the SPHE support service for post primary teachers is not being reduced from the current allocation. Although the Walk Tall Support Service will no longer exist in its current guise, it is my intention that the support...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. However, I can inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers was included in a bundle of 11 projects advertised on the Governments etenders web-site last week to commence the process of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project for the school in question, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to address details of the case referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy in relation to the deployment of special needs teachers has not changed. No decision has been taken to reduce the level of learning support/resource teachers in mainstream schools. On the contrary, the level of learning support has increased at post-primary level. Special classes continue to be supported providing the enrolments warrant the...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My officials have raised this matter with the Department of Finance which understands that the WEEE Register Society has confirmed that all necessary documentation and payments have been received from the company concerned for relevant years.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Mar 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 (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy. However, applications from schools for additional accommodation are currently being assessed. Schools will be notified of the outcome of their applications in due course. In addition, all applications received under the Summer...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is very supportive of the SNA scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream education and providing support to pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (23 Mar 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the 2007/2012 Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise that broad agreement has been reached on the core conditions to enable...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have not met with the Northern Ireland Minister for Employment and Learning, in the period since 16 February, 2010 but I have received a letter from Minister Empey dated 16 March 2010 which refers to a meeting between the Irish Business and Employers Federation, the Confederation of British Industry (IBEC-CBI) Joint Business Council and Universities Ireland which took place on 16 February...