Results 2,141-2,160 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (8 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The inquiry to which the Deputy refers was established in February 2006 by my predecessor as Minister for Education and Science and relates to Kilkenny City Vocational School. The terms of reference are set out below. I share the Deputy's concerns regarding the delay in concluding this inquiry. In view of the time that has elapsed since the establishment of the inquiry, the inquiry officer...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the Local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The bulk of the funding due for payment under the terms of the contract between the school and the contractor for this project has issued to the school on foot of appropriate certification that certain works have been completed. However, to date, a final certificate, signed by the Consultant Architect, confirming satisfactory completion of the project has not been received in my Department...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The budget measures will impact on individual schools in different ways depending on whether enrolment is rising or declining and the degree to which any one school has more teachers than it is entitled to under the allocation processes. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil enrolment...

Written Answers — School Staff Recruitment: School Staff Recruitment (8 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recruitment and appointment of personnel to fill teaching posts is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (8 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.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: No.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The most recent statistics for direct employment in the English language sector come from a survey carried out from late 2008 to early 2009 on behalf of Fáilte Ireland, the body responsible for promotion and development of the sector. The survey's results estimated that there are approximately 1,200 people who are directly employed on a full-time, all year round basis, and that there are...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Expenditure for the Commission to Inquire into child Abuse from inception, to the end of 2008 was € 59.36 Million. At this point it is estimated that a further €30 — 40 million may be required to meet the remaining costs of the Commission. This is a tentative provision, given that the Commission has yet to negotiate on a large volume of third party legal costs.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The student to which the Deputy refers has been provided with one print copy of brailled books from the National Braille Production Centre (NBPC). The NBPC's current policy is to make one set of books available in hard copy format to the client and provide an alternative electronic copy that schools/parents can arrange to braille. In exceptional circumstances, the NBPC will provide a second...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment in schools. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Institutes of Technology are statutory bodies established under the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs or in relation to applications from individual prospective students. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene on behalf of any particular student.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand, following consultation between the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and FÁS, that the funding referred to by the Deputy is the funding for grant assistance that was targeted by FÁS at persons in employment towards the cost of participation on a particular course in the higher education institution also referred to by the Deputy. This funding was awarded on a year by year basis...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1093 and 1095 together. At post-primary level, in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools physical education should form part of the curriculum in all schools. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on the Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable. It...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The substitution cover arrangements introduced in January 2009 will continue for the 2009/2010 school year. Each post-primary school has been provided with a defined number of hours of substitution cover outside of the supervision and substitution scheme to provide cover for teacher absences arising from uncertified sick leave and official school business. This was calculated on the basis...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 to 1098, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is currently considering a number of broad policy issues relating to the recognition process for second level schools. The application from Educate Together to be recognised as a patron body at second level will be fully examined within the context of legal, financial and other factors that I must consider.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school concerned. It is the policy of my Department that unqualified personnel should only be employed in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel have been exhausted. Unqualified personnel should therefore only be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1102 and 1103 together. Resource teaching is allocated to schools to support pupils with special educational needs who qualify for such support under the criteria outlined in various Department circulars. As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system of learning support/resource teachers to mainstream primary schools in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In order to establish a candidate's status as an independent mature student, documentary evidence is required as proof of a candidate's ordinary/permanent address from 1st October of the year preceding entry to college. Awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof has been submitted by the grant applicant. While an affidavit if...