Results 2,601-2,620 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning. Planning permission has been granted on this project. In February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The Deputy will understand that it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The legislation which governs eligibility to Parental Leave is set out in the Parental Leave Act, 1998 and the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act, 2006. The Department responsible for the preparation and enactment of legislation in relation to Parental Leave is the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform. As the proposals made in your question represent significant changes to the existing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the proposed project for the school to which she refers involves the acquisition of a site. The progression of the project from site acquisition and initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department agreed to pay €10,000 to the landowners referred to by Deputy in April 2008 for an additional piece of land at the school in question. The €10,000 was to be paid upon receipt of a signed Deed of Rectification from the vendors. The CSSO, who is acting of behalf of my Department, has confirmed that they did not receive the signed Deed of Rectification and accompanying...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 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 (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to primary and post primary schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Delegates Allowance is payable to officers who attend meetings abroad as part of a delegation representing this country fir example at EU meetings, other international organisations or with representatives of other Governments. Payment in respect of delegate's allowance is made through my Department's payroll and the sum is taxable and subject to pay related social insurance. In the years...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised that the Chief State Solicitors Office (CSSO) which acts on behalf of the Department, has written to the local authority's legal representatives seeking clarification on the proposal. My Department is advised that a response is awaited. As soon as the CSSO query has been addressed, I have instructed my officials to progress same as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 to 647, inclusive, together. The review of the procedures for the recognition of new primary schools is underway under the Commission on School Accommodation. Pending the outcome of the review, new schools will not be established for reasons unrelated to demographic growth in areas where there is already sufficient school accommodation or where increases...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Draft legislation to put in place a legal framework which will facilitate the involvement of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) in the provision of primary education is currently in preparation. It has been decided that it is proper that the role and responsibility of VECs in relation to the patronage of primary schools should be set forth in primary legislation and brought before the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware the Department has provided significant additional school accommodation in that general area, which should relieve pressure on enrolments at the school to which she refers. The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for future...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The Deputy will understand that it is not possible to advance all projects at the same time. It was not possible to include the...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's officials have reviewed its printing contracts for the past five years and I can confirm that no print jobs were carried out by companies based outside the Republic of Ireland during this period.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 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 (SENOs), for allocating additional resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to primary and post primary schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the relevant local authority or Vocational Education Committee. The student referred to by the Deputy should seek information or clarification directly from the relevant assessing authority. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases,...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age and Rule 64 (1) of the Rules for National Schools provides that a child must be at least 4 years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a National School. The primary school curriculum is designed as an eight year course, including a two year infant cycle followed by six years in standards from first to sixth, with...

Written Answers — Higher Education Funding: Higher Education Funding (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the process to develop a new national strategy for higher education is now underway which is being overseen by a high level steering group, chaired by economist Dr Colin Hunt and comprising national and international expertise including academic, business, community and student interests, as well as senior government officials. The process affords a timely opportunity...

Written Answers — Foreign Students: Foreign Students (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is attached. There has been a 45% increase in international student numbers in Irish higher education institutions, including private institutions, since 2004. "Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal" recognises the benefits of further increasing international student numbers. These include significant...

Written Answers — Language Schools: Language Schools (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) was established under the auspices of my Department to administer standards in language schools and organisations through a quality assurance scheme supported by a programme of inspections. Language schools meeting the standards required by the ACELS scheme are recognised by my Department. The list of recognised organisations is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The post primary school project referred to by the Deputy is included in the list of seven schools which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This Bundle is in the pre procurement stage and my Department has completed a round of stakeholders' meetings in each of the locations where PPP schools are to be provided. A detailed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, this project was included in my announcement in February 2009, of projects which would proceed to tender and construction during 2009. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. My Department is currently awaiting the Stage 2b submission from the Design team.