Results 2,061-2,080 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: If I get that advice from the current Attorney General on that basis, then I cannot-----

Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy should not ask me to do that. I refer the Deputy back to an occasion when the then Minister, Deputy Martin, was challenged by the Deputy's party on an issue in the health sector. Those in the Deputy's party asked him how long he knew that an issue was unconstitutional before he acted. Is that what the Deputy wants me to do? Does he want me to act as a Minister in an...

Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am not prepared to do that for anyone. I am very conscious of the difficulties that pertain to rural Protestant schools. I have pointed out to the Protestant clergy that I am prepared to talk to them and to target and focus. I want them to come back with their suggestions as to how that focus can be properly assigned.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is not readily available but I have requested officials of the Personnel Unit of my Department to compile this information and forward it to you as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the constituency offices for the Minister and Minister of State in my Department have not incurred costs for leaflet design, production, delivery or other related costs in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by Deputy is currently being collated by my officials, but unfortunately it has not been possible to fully gather all the relevant data in the time available. I will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as the information has been fully collated.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The detail of money expended from the capital subheads of my Department on the schools to which the Deputy refers is contained in the following tabular statement. Payments are made when valid invoices are presented to the Department. As payments are dependent on the receipt of valid invoices, it would be premature to state what exact payments might arise in respect of each of these schools...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme from the school referred to by the Deputy was recently approved by my Department. The works to be done include the upgrade of mechanical and electrical services, fire safety installation, replacement of windows and other health and safety works. Under the Emergency Works Scheme funding is approved on a devolved basis. It is a matter...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project 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 building project will be...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is willing to examine the relevant recommendations from the organisation in question. The possibility of a meeting between my officials and the organisation can be considered in light of this examination.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Student Support Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The Bill makes provision for the transfer of responsibility for student grants to the VEC sector. In the existing budgetary situation,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Arrangements in respect of Administrative staff in Vocational Education Committees were agreed having regard to the terms of paragraph 31.33 of the Towards 2016 agreement which is concerned with the Common Recruitment Pool. These arrangements were put in place whilst recognising the differences in size and scope of VECs both as individual employers and as a sector comprehended by the common...

Written Answers — Central Applications Office: Central Applications Office (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together. The CAO is a private (not-for-profit) company and receives no State funding. The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing centrally applications for admission to their first year undergraduate courses. Neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority has any role to play in relation to the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. It is therefore a matter for each individual Board of Management to determine how it provides in its enrolment policy for the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. Schools must also ensure that they fulfil their obligations under the Education Welfare Act 2000. The Act...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 to 284, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions 1221, 1222 and 1223 of 16 September 2009 in relation to the acquisition of school sites and permanent buildings for the schools in question. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Mature Students: Mature Students (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 287, inclusive, and 289 together. The table below shows the number of mature students (23+) who entered third level institutions for the first time from 1998/1999 to 2008/2009 by sector. The proportion of all new entrants to higher education institutions in those years who were mature students is also shown. Data for mature new entrants to part-time...

Written Answers — Mature Students: Mature Students (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Over the past decade there have also been sustained levels of investment in the access programmes of higher education institutions. Each university has a dedicated Mature Student Officer who will liaise directly with a mature student in relation to their needs. In addition each Institute of Technology has an Access Officer who has responsibility for assisting mature students. These programmes...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 1 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...