Results 1,401-1,420 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (15 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: To date applications have been received to invoke Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular the existing roles of the Universities and Institutes of Technology which have...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for temporary accommodation from the school for which the Deputy refers has been received. The application is currently being assessed. My Department will be in contact with the school as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy has advanced to the stage that the Department has agreed the Schedule of Accommodation for a new 16-classroom school. The site required for the new school has now been acquired and the process of appointing a design team has commenced. The Department published the advertisement seeking qualified consultants on the public procurement website...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A grant was sanctioned in March 2007 to enable the management authority of the school in question to extend and modernise their school. This scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives them control of the building project. I understand that construction is due to commence during the summer holidays...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 426 together. To date applications have been received to invoke Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular the existing roles of the...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is necessary for the Department to purchase additional land to enable a building project to facilitate this development and this process is on-going. Progress on the building project will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Modernisation and Policy Unit of my Department received an application for emergency funding from the school in question. A decision on this application will be made as soon as possible and the school authority will be advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. Number of students in Third Level Education Institutions aided by the Department of Education and Science 06/07 05/06 04/05 03/04 02/03 Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time 138,362 *31,194 136,719 31,354 133,691 34,509 133,887 34,000 129,283...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Data on the average annual cost of living for higher education students is not collected annually. The main source of data is the Eurostudent Survey, which is conducted with other research in this area by the Higher Education Authority. The second survey in the series, published in 2005, indicated that the average monthly expenditure (excluding tobacco, alcohol and entertainment) incurred by...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A person with a degree on the list of approved qualifications is automatically entitled to be considered for registration with the Teaching Council (all other requirements being satisfied) provided that the subject coverage in his/her undergraduate degree meets the general and specific requirements for at least one curricular subject. These subject specific requirements are available on the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 to 402, inclusive, and 429 together. Projects are usually activated by an application from the relevant school authority for capital works or on foot of the outcome of an Area Development Plan initiated by my Department. The estimated cost of a project cannot be easily determined at this initial stage. Generally before establishing the scope of such...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy is aware that my Department has put in place a range of teaching and care supports for pupils with special educational needs, including those with Down Syndrome. Pupils with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional teaching support in school, either under the terms of the general allocation system for children with high incidence special needs or through an allocation of...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Both the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2007 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 place obligations on employers to prevent harassment and ensure the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. Such policies are a matter for each institution in accordance with the requirements of the Institutes of Technology Act 2006. It is my understanding that all Institutes...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 406 and 407 together. My Department is providing broadband connectivity to recognised primary and post-primary schools under the Schools Broadband Access Programme. This programme is being undertaken in partnership with industry in the context of a Government — IBEC/TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) Agreement to provide local broadband...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Rush. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 to 416, inclusive, together. There are a range of measures in place to safeguard personal data held by various business units in my Department. My Department has produced a set of guidelines for all staff which sets out the issues to be considered when collecting, storing and processing personal data. These guidelines were approved by the Data Protection...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to expenditure by my Department on consultants is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is being prepared in my Department and will be forwarded directly to him.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in...