Results 2,041-2,060 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Programme for Government. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am not aware that third level institutes or universities have, up to now, requested an increase in the registration fee. However, all these issues are budgetary matters that will be determined by Government when dealing with the Estimates.
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 107 together. The published expenditure figures show that my Department's capital expenditure to the end of September is â¬455 million, which is â¬112 million behind the profiled or projected figure of â¬568 million. My Department's total budget in 2009 for primary, post-primary and third level capital is â¬841 million. Expenditure on the large...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: We are anxious to ensure that when we announce a project, it goes to construction as soon as possible. There are two reasons for the difficulty this year. One is the new form of contract. As the Deputy knows, these new contracts transferred major liability onto whoever was doing the construction. This new format created a difficulty in architectural and other offices with regard to...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The difficulty was such that we invited them to Tullamore to brief them and outline to them what was required. This caused a delay in its own right. I would like to see the projects up and running. However, the Deputy should understand there has been significant activity on the ground and it is only the major projects that are being held up. The summer works scheme, for example,-----
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: It is important for me to outline how the Department has moved ahead with over 1,200 summer works projects. The energy efficiency scheme has 1,500 projects up and running. All the devolved small local schemes are up and running and on schedule. While some of the bigger projects have been delayed, we are quite happy that the amount of money we have set aside for them will be required and...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am glad of the opportunity to be able to expand on what has been said here. I have saved something in the region of â¬14 million already on prefabs so far this year compared to last year. We are delighted with these savings. I introduced an initiative which gives the option of erecting a permanent structure as against a prefab, and 159 schools have taken up the option. A classroom can...
- Schools Building Projects. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Yes, I will.
- School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: A total of 850 primary teachers have retired on pension to date in 2009 and the corresponding figure for secondary, community and comprehensive schools is 738. Within the overall total, 253 principals have retired from primary schools while 68 principals have retired from secondary, community and comprehensive schools. Deputy principal retirements total 260 of which 208 were primary and 52...
- School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: There is no doubt that the numbers are much higher than in previous years, and we carried out a survey to find out why. It showed that approximately half of those retiring gave "planned retirement" as their main reason, one third highlighted concerns about future taxation of their lump sum and the impact of recent levies and the remainder tended to cite general reasons such as lifestyle...
- School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I do not appear to have those figures although I have costings for teachers in various circumstances.
- School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I shall provide that information for the Deputy. As regards the moratorium, as he knows we have a system in place whereby a principal or deputy principal can be replaced. That is a special concession that does not apply to other sectors of the public service. We ask schools to prioritise and reorganise posts that cannot be filled. Some 50% of all teachers have a post of responsibility, it...
- School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: That has changed totally as the Deputy knows - it is a new regime. The percentage of teachers retiring, therefore, is very small and we hope that given the circumstances that prevail schools will be able to juxtapose various posts to ensure all the important elements will be reorganised and people are transferred, as appropriate. I do not envisage looking for a derogation in this particular...
- School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am not concerned, as there are enough posts of responsibility. There is enough flexibility within the schools so that they can reorganise, and it will be successful.
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: My colleagues in Government and I recognise the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos. I have met representatives of the Church of Ireland, the Grand Orange Lodge and a rural Protestant fee-paying school. I will meet representatives of the Protestant education sector tomorrow. The representations I have...
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy so as to ensure he understands exactly what is happening. I have treated the Protestant bishops and any other group who have met me with the respect and fairness due to them and certainly the equity that was desired. This answer has been cleared by the Attorney General. He believes that to continue the grant that was available would be unconstitutional...
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The block grant was agreed between-----
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: -----Donogh O'Malley and the Protestant churches. That block grant continues to this day. It is important that I further advise the Deputy that the grant that is made available to the Protestant schools amounts to â¬645 per pupil. The grant available to ordinary second level schools is â¬345. They are in a more privileged position.
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy has accused me of putting out misinformation. When I took away this grant, the Protestant bishops agreed with me that they had â¬2 million in the education committee's coffers that was not spent and that was derived from this grant. In the interim period I asked them to use that money to defray any difficulties that exist and come back to me with a scheme that would look at the...
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Does the Deputy want a Minister to allow an issue that is not constitutional to continue?
- Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am not prepared to allowed to allow something that is contrary to the Constitution-----