Results 2,001-2,020 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968-1992 provide for the making of grants by local authorities to enable persons to attend approved courses of higher education. The process, whereby local authorities assess eligibility and make grant payments under the Higher Education Grants Scheme is provided for under these Acts. While the Higher Education Grants Scheme is...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department I can confirm to the Deputy that appropriate measures are in place to ensure compliance with prescribed procedures which demonstrate efficient, effective and economic use of public funds in relation to business travel and subsistence expenditure. In addition, my Department's officials brought both the revised Code of Practice for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. I have made arrangements for a home tuition application form to be sent to the address in question for completion. My officials will consider the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of the correspondence to which the Deputy refers. My Department will formally respond to the matters raised as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department has received an application for Major Capital funding for an extension including ancillary accommodation from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. A request to meet with a deputation from the school has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for funding for a new school building. The application is currently being assessed and my Department will revert to the school authority on the matter shortly. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The proposed...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Residential Institutions Redress Board operates under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002. In accordance with the legislation, the closing date for receipt of applications to the Board expired on 15th December 2005. However, Section 8 of the Act allows for the Board to consider applications received after that date in exceptional circumstances. As the Board is...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Report of the Special Committee on the Arts and Education: Points of Alignment was published in 2008 by the Arts Council. Its terms of reference required the committee to take specific account of the fact "that the budgetary resources likely to be available over the next 4 years to the Minister for Education and Science for development of services in the education sector must be allocated...

Written Answers — Digital Media Industry: Digital Media Industry (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The digital media industry, which includes the computer games sector, is an industry with potential for significant growth. There is a diverse range of courses relevant to the computer game industry available in the further and higher education sectors in Ireland. A number of dedicated courses are available in computer games development and many broader ICT and engineering courses also...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my belief that a well planned Physical Education programme has a vitally important role to play in a broad and balanced curriculum for our primary and second level students. At primary level, Physical Education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum which was introduced in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second-level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered in the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 to 644, inclusive, together. 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. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction has commenced at the school in question and it is envisaged that the construction work should be completed in late 2010.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In general, where pupils have specific physical needs for specialised/adapted furniture and equipment in order for them to attend school, an application for funding may be made to the Planning and Building Unit in my Department. This application must be supported by an Occupational Therapist's Report confirming the need for the item(s) in question. It is open to all schools, including...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2009)

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. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 and 649 together. The Revised Programme for Government commits the Government to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio in primary and second level schools for the lifetime of this Government. Under the revised programme we will provide 500 teaching posts between primary and second levels over the next three years. My Department will be consulting...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 to 652, inclusive, and 655 to 657, inclusive, together. I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of appropriate educational intervention and supports for children with special educational needs continues to be a key Government priority. This is reflected in the fact that my Department was the only Department other than Social Welfare that got an...

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding for the commitments in the revised Programme for Government will be considered in the overall context of the funding available to Government for next year.