Results 2,741-2,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position relating to the matter of assistive technology grants for the school in question is as I outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 665 on 9 June last. My Department has not received a recommendation for laptops for pupils with special educational needs attending the school in question. I have referred the matter to the National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that on 12 February, 2009, I announced details of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project for the school in question was included in this announcement. The project is currently at the earliest stage of architectural planning and is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team.

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 290 together. On Thursday 4th June 2009, the Taoiseach, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues, met with representatives of the Religious Congregations to begin the process of addressing with them the issues arising from the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach conveyed the view of the...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On Wednesday 3rd June the Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues met with survivors groups to begin the process of discussion of the issues arising from the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach reiterated the apology issued to survivors by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, TD, and conveyed directly and personally a sincere...

Written Answers — Gaelscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht: Gaelscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá sé i gceist agam ceisteanna 291 agus 292 a fhreagairt le chéile. Is é beartas na Roinne Oideachais agus Eolaíochtaí go ndéanfaí teagasc trí Ghaeilge i scoileanna Gaeltachta a mhéad is féidir. Faigheann oidí i scoileanna Gaeltachta liúntas ar leith de €3,068 mar gheall ar theagasc trí Ghaeilge a chur ar fáíl. Soláthraíonn an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta raon...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has two main locations outside of Dublin, in Athlone and Tullamore, which were in existence prior to the announcement of the Decentralisation Programme in 2003. As you are aware, offices of the Department of Finance decentralised to Tullamore providing the primary opportunity for officers to move to that location under the Government's Decentralisation programme. Under the...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Board: Residential Institutions Redress Board (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established under statute in December 2002. Under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, the board is completely independent in the performance of its functions. Consequently, my Department does not have access to any information on individual applications to the board. Section 8 of the Act provides for the board to accept...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 499 together. The number of mainstream class teachers appropriate to a school for the 2009-10 school year is determined by reference to the school's valid enrolment on 30 September 2008, in accordance with the staffing schedule (Primary Circular 0002/2009) which is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie. The schedule is a transparent...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Criteria for the 2009 maintenance grant schemes are under review at present. Decisions on the 2009 schemes will be announced as soon as the process is completed. I presume the Deputy is referring to free tuition fees. As the Deputy will be aware, I am currently finalising a review of policy options relating to the introduction of a form of student contribution. There are many complex and...

Written Answers — Early Retirement Scheme: Early Retirement Scheme (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement for public servants over 50 years of age was announced in the supplementary budget in April of this year. To date, my Department has received 18 applications under the new incentivised retirement scheme. It does not apply to teachers or special needs assistants for two reasons. First, teachers and special needs assistants are not subject to the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 486 together. I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.4 rating. The progression of all large...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that special schools are recognised as providing educational services to children with various disabilities. It is important that schools are sufficiently flexible in their abilities to be able to provide an appropriate education for all children within the particular category of disability. This flexibility requires all schools to be able to draw on a range of...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department continually monitors programmes and seeks improvements to deliver value for money and enhanced services to its customers. Reviews are carried out on specific policy areas as agreed with the Department of Finance under the value for money framework. In addition, a range of other policy reviews that impact on value for money are carried out within the Department. The Department...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise that the school to which the Deputy refers is currently out to tender. Tenders are due back 1 July 2009. Once a tender report is prepared by the Design Team, and submitted to the Department, the project will be considered for progression to construction.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Special Needs Assistants are allocated to provide for care needs of pupils with special educational needs in accordance with specified criteria. The needs of individual children and the number of such children can change over time with consequent changes to a school's SNA allocation. Accordingly, redundancy arrangements agreed at national level operate for special needs assistants employed...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the Deputy's office has clarified that this question is requesting an update on the accommodation needs of a special class in a mainstream school and also details on the educational provision available for children in this special class once they have completed primary school. I can confirm that my Department has received an application from the National School to which the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The framework panel for the appointment of design team consultants to major school building projects commenced on Monday, 20 April and will conclude on Tuesday, 20 October 2009. Work on setting up a further panel is ongoing within the Planning and Building Unit of my Department and an advertisement will appear on the public procurement portal, www.etenders.gov.ie, in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: For the Deputy's information a composite list of major school building projects follows. The first list outlines those projects that are currently in architectural planning and the second, those that are at pre-architectural planning stage. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the information, I regret that it is not possible to detail the estimated cost of the projects on an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 489 together. The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, this school has been assigned a band rating of 2.2. The progression of all large scale projects, including this project, from...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.1 rating. The project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large...