Results 1,281-1,300 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Statistics: School Statistics (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are 3,286 primary schools (3160 ordinary schools and 126 special schools). The Deputy will appreciate that the total number of schools will vary from year to year on account of closures, amalgamations and new school openings. In this regard I recently announced the opening of 22 new schools with effect from September next. The 22 new schools include: 12 Multi-Denominational, 5...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has not submitted an application to my Department for capital funding towards the provision of additional accommodation. If schools feel that they don't have sufficient places to meet demand, including this school, they should contact my Department so that the situation can be examined as to how best to provide whatever additional capacity is required....

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister of State for Integration Policy, appointed under the previous Government, was responsible for integration policy functions in my Department relating to the following. Ensuring that the range of education policies across different areas of the Department and the bodies under its aegis take account of the need to integrate immigrants and their families, in particular in relation...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Education legislation requires that the diversity of educational provision in the State is taken account of, and the right of parents to send their children to a school of their choice is respected under Section 30 of the Education Act 1998, no student can be required to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the onscience of the parent of the student. The Rules for National...

Written Answers — Third Level Qualifications: Third Level Qualifications (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of PhD graduates for the seven universities from 2000 to 2006 is outlined in the following table. PhD graduates from the Institutes of Technology will increase this number to over 950 for 2006. The numbers for 2007 are not yet available. However, indications are that the number of PhD graduates from state funded higher education institutions will be approximately 1,000. Combined...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the region of €730 million will be spent by my Department this year on tackling educational disadvantage at all levels from pre-school to further and higher education. This represents an increase of over 60% and is testament to the Government's determination to prioritise social inclusion and ensure that all our children and young people get the supports they need to do well at school....

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is aware of the document referred to by the Deputy. Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve...

Written Answers — Legal Costs: Legal Costs (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established under statute to investigate child abuse in institutions in the State, to enable persons who have suffered such abuse to give evidence to committees of the Commission and to prepare and publish a report of findings and recommendations considered appropriate for the alleviation of the effects of past child abuse and for the protection...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The final legal transfer of title is currently under way in respect of a site purchased by the Department for the provision of a new school referred to by the Deputy. The Department is currently examining the feasibility of allowing this school proceed in the 3rd Bundle of Public-Private Partnership projects which I will be announcing later this year. The indicative timeframe for the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: To date, my Department has incurred costs of €34,830 in connection with the relocation of the posts forming the Athlone element of the programme of decentralisation. This relocation of posts is underway at present and I expect this to be complete by the end of June. The agencies under the aegis of my Department have reported incurring costs of €15,902 in connection with the...

Nomination of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Targaím: Go n-ainmníonn Dáil Éireann An tUasal Seán Ó Buachalla chun a cheaptha ag an tUachtarán mar Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste. I move: That Dáil Éireann nominates Mr. John Buckley for appointment by the President to be the Comptroller and Auditor General. As Deputies know, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. John Purcell, is retiring with effect from 14 May 2008. While...

Nomination of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have been a constructive member of the Committee of Public Accounts for many years.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Work on a revised syllabus for Agricultural Science has largely been completed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). However, the assessment arrangements for the revised syllabus have not yet been finalised as they will have to be considered in the context of the assessment of other senior cycle science subjects, including the introduction of a second assessment component.

Written Answers — Medical Education: Medical Education (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A programme of reform and expansion of undergraduate medical education and training commenced in 2006 following the acceptance by the Government of the report entitled "Medical Education in Ireland A new Direction" ( the Fottrell Report) published jointly by the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science. The measures being implemented under the programme...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Over the seven years of the NDP €13 billion will be invested under the Human Capital Priority to develop the capacity of the higher education sector to meet a number of key national objectives, including that of increasing the numbers of students participating in the sector. Levels of mature student participation have seen an unprecedented growth from just 4.5% of full-time new entrants...

Written Answers — UNESCO Property: UNESCO Property (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Director-General of UNESCO, in his report to the Executive Board of UNESCO on this issue, did not set out which books were destroyed nor did he specifically state what actions the Secretariat would be putting in place to prevent a re-occurrence. I have directed my officials to request further information from UNESCO, through Ireland's Permanent Representation to the Organisation in...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under my Department's Free Fees Initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students, including those from Northern Ireland and other EU Member States, who are attending approved undergraduate third-level courses in the State. There are no plans to extend this initiative to cover third level institutions in Northern Ireland. Under my Department's Higher Education Grant...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recognition and registration of teachers in Ireland is a function of the Teaching Council. The Teaching Council is obliged to establish and maintain a register of teachers and this database is capable of providing statistics on registered teachers in various disciplines and sectors and on the qualifications of registered teachers. However, it is not possible to provide the information...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: One of the four funding measures that have been approved for support under the 2008 Dormant Account Fund Educational Disadvantage Programme is a scheme to enable up to 22 DEIS Urban Band 1 Schools in Limerick City to open after school hours. A total of €1.7m has been allocated to the scheme. This scheme had been developed as part of my Department's response to the education-related...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the announcement of 28th March last indicated that details of the schemes under the Dormant Accounts Fund and Rapid Leverage Fund would be announced at a future date. In relation to the Fund to assist up to 100 DEIS schools achieve Digital School Status, my officials are finalising the scheme arrangements with the National Centre for Technology in Education and I...