Results 2,241-2,260 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Teachers' Pensions: Teachers' Pensions (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Revised Spouses and Children's Pension Scheme was introduced in 2005 following a Government decision. Teachers who were members of the main pension scheme at any time between 31 March 2004 and 31 August 2005 were given the option of joining the revised scheme or of retaining their present status, either as members of the Original Spouses' and Children's Scheme or remaining outside such...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 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 an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all assessed...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: 81.2% of second level pupils study three languages, Irish, English and a continental language, to completion of upper second level, and over 70% of schools offer two foreign languages or more. The languages available as part of the post primary curriculum in schools include French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Arabic. The post primary language initiative provides supports...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 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 an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all assessed...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered 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 Department, it is not possible to...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 2008, my Department provided grants of €1.23 million to schools for the Leaving Certificate Applied programme. Schools also benefited from an equipment grant, amounting to €5,079 for each school offering the programme. As a result of the need to make savings in Budget 2009, this grant was abolished with effect from 1 January 2009. The budget required difficult choices to be made...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that under my Department free tuition fees schemes the exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students. Third level institutions are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine the level of fees to be charged in any case where the free fees schemes do not apply. The issue of a refund of tuition fees is also a matter for each institution and I have...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department previously met with County Dublin Vocational Committee to discuss the matter of a site for the school and County Dublin VEC have agreed to dispose of the site adjacent to the existing school site to the Department under the terms of a 99 year lease. The Department has recently received the legal documents in question from the VEC and has instructed the CSSO to progress the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Information on the current school building programme and on applications on hand for major capital works is available on my Department's web-site at www.education.ie. The following tabular statement provides the additional information for schools in South Tipperary requested by the Deputy. Every application for major capital works is initially given a provisional priority band rating. A...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Department Circular 11/95 states that a full school day at primary level comprises a period of not less than five hours and forty minutes. Circular 11/95 and the Rules for National Schools also provide that pupils in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day, (i.e. 5 hours and forty minutes). It is a matter for the Board of...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The residency clause of the scheme requires, in the case of a candidate under 23, that the candidate's parents or guardians to have been resident in the administrative area of a Local Authority from 1st October of the previous year. In the case of an independent mature candidate the candidate himself/herself must have been resident in the administrative area of a Local Authority from 1st...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252, 1253, 1268 together. There are a number of circumstances in which it is possible for teachers and other education sector staff to retire on pension before preserved pension age. This is 60 years of age or, in the case of new entrants appointed on or after 1 April 2004 for the first time or following at least a 6 month break in service, 65 years of age....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1255 to 1257, inclusive, and 1274 together. The project to which the Deputies refer is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. A stage 2A submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) has recently been received in my Department and is currently under consideration. The major project, which includes the provision of an enhanced community facility in conjunction...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware I presented the technical report in relation to the introduction of a form of student contribution to my Cabinet colleagues recently. The report is intended to allow for an informed examination of the issue and sets out broad policy options in an Irish context which draws on experience from other systems that operate internationally. The report also sets out a range of...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Schemes: Home-School Liaison Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The current hourly rate of payment is €44.33 for a qualified primary teacher and €49.60 for a qualified post primary teacher. Tutors who are not qualified teachers are paid at a rate of €30.49 per hour.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme is a reflection of the Government's gratitude for the significant contribution made by Senator Mitchell to the promotion of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The Government provided an endowment of IR£2million for the programme in 1999. In 2007, a decision was taken to secure the long term viability of this programme...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The George Mitchell Scholarship Programme is run on an academic year basis. Details of the numbers of students participating in this programme in the 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 academic years are set out in a table. Institution 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 Dublin City University (DCU) 1 2 0 National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) 1 1 1.5* National University of Ireland,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers was one of ten projects announced in January 2009 to be re-tendered. In order to prepare for tender and to comply with the new form of Government contract, the project was required to submit a new Stage 2b (detailed design). Following the receipt and clearance of the Stage 2b (detailed design) submission, the project was authorised to go tender in June...