Results 2,821-2,840 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (24 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers to is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Department's prioritisation criteria were amended in 2004 and the Band rating for this project was amended from a Band 1 rating under the old criteria to a Band 2.2 rating under the amended criteria. The amended band rating is in accordance with the situation in the school where there is a...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the developer in this matter has advised my Department that the site originally offered for the construction of a new school for the school referred to by the Deputy is held as security with a lending institution. My Department understands that the developer will not be in a position to transfer the site until he has worked through 75% of the overall...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a large scale building project. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a Band 2 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 a person is liable to pay the pensions-related deduction if he or she is a public servant on or after 1 March 2009 and is a member of a public service pension scheme, is entitled to a benefit under such a scheme or receives a payment in lieu of membership of such a scheme. Therefore, even if a person is not a...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468, 469, 508 and 534 together. I am committed to providing information in relation to the allocation of teachers to schools and as a new feature on my Department's website. The process has begun with the provision earlier this year of initial information on the allocation of mainstream classroom teachers to primary schools under the revised schedule for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised that the file for the school in question was not missing. I understand the Deputy may be referring to a comment on the file which was released under the Freedom of Information Act referring to lack of progress in the case. The lack of progression of the site issue was impeded as the initial search for a greenfield site in the area had not been successful. My officials have had...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together. The provision of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers necessitates the acquisition of a greenfield site. This is actively being pursued by my Department. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on this aspect of the matter at this...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is satisfied that there is adequate capacity at post-primary level in Lucan in the short to medium term. 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 years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my Department's intention to increase capacity at the school to which the Deputy refers to 1,000 pupil places. The building project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. 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...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am committed to providing information in relation to the allocation of teachers to schools and as a new feature on my Department's website. The process has begun with the provision earlier this year of initial information on the allocation of mainstream classroom teachers to primary schools under the revised schedule for 2009/10. In terms of the position at individual primary school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The application to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in the Planning and Building Unit of my Department in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. It has been assigned a Band 2 rating under these criteria. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has considered the correspondence submitted by the schools in question appealing the decision to suppress a class for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) in each school. My Department recently advised both schools that the decision to suppress the classes remains. All...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The new post primary school to which the Deputy refers is currently under construction. When completed, it will cater for 1,000 pupils.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is located in an area which is the subject of a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). The planning scheme for the SDZ, which is endorsed by An Bord Pleanála, requires that housing and supporting infrastructure, including schools, be provided in a phased manner. It is a condition of the SDZ that at completion of phase 2 (maximum of 1,800 housing units) a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Based on current demographic trends my Department anticipates that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in the area concerned in the medium term and has been in contact with the relevant local authority regarding a potential site for future educational provision in the area. My Department has inspected the various site options identified by the local authority and is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Home tuition was not sanctioned for the child in question as the application did not meet the criteria under the terms of the home tuition scheme. Additional information submitted in support of the application is under consideration by officials in my Department. A decision will be conveyed to the parent as soon as this process is completed.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have consistently said that the 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 521 together. As the Deputies 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 competing considerations including costs, affordability and value for money for the taxpayer which will be taken into account by the Government in considering...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently considering an application for additional teaching provision to support a number of traveller children in the school referred to by the Deputy. The application will be examined as quickly as possible and the school authority will be advised of the outcome once the examination has been completed.