Results 2,861-2,880 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: An audit of school enrolment policies which looked at issues such as the enrolment of traveller children, newcomer children and children with special education needs in almost 2,000 schools at primary and post-primary level was carried out in 2007. The results were published on my Department's website in April 2008. The audit also looked at the written enrolment policies of a proportion of...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the school building programme is being assembled in my Department and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. I can confirm that 24 schools were authorised to re-tender within the last twelve months. However, to date, none of these projects has been completed.
- Written Answers — English Language Schools: English Language Schools (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: English language schools and institutions offering international education are providers of an important service for thousands of learners who wish to enhance their education. The sector is also a major contributor to the Irish economy and recent estimates put its total economic impact at around â¬500 million. It is important, therefore, that institutions offering English language courses...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, I announced in January 2009 that the project for the school in question was to proceed to re-tender and construction. The Stage 2B (Detailed Design) submission was received by my Department from the school on the 15th of June and is currently being examined. My officials will revert to the school authorities as soon as possible regarding further progress.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together. Officials from the National Development Agency and Technical Advisors appointed for the procurement of the 3rd Bundle of schools to be delivered via Public Private Partnership met with planning officials from Wexford County Council to discuss the provision of a new post primary school on the Gorey site earlier this month. Work on the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: In order to be assessed as an independent mature candidate, the candidate must provide the relevant assessing authority with adequate proof of independent residence from 1st October preceding their entry to an approved course. In the case of the candidate referred to by the Deputy this is 1st October 2006. While the documentation referred to by the Deputy indicates that the person was...
- Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. These services may include on-campus medical and counselling facilities for students, access and disability services, careers office, student facilities, student clubs and societies etc. This charge of â¬900 for 2008/09 academic year does not represent...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The agency in question, Kane Crowe Kavanagh (KCK) was appointed following a competitive tendering process to carry out an independent review of my Department's policies and procedures for the provision of temporary classroom accommodation. The review is ongoing and will, inter alia, cover an examination of the contract terms with providers to incorporate buy out, buy back, rental costs and...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for approval to re-locate to alternative accommodation for the 2009/10 school year. Following my Department's response to the initial application, the school submitted a revised proposal. This has been examined by my Department and it will be in contact with the school authority shortly with its findings.
- Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I take it the Deputy is referring to the Dormant Accounts-funded Small Scale ICT Scheme for schools included in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools). In April 2007, my Department announced details of this onceâoff scheme, which was approved for support in 2007 under the Educational Disadvantage category of the Dormant Accounts Fund. Eligibility for the scheme was...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the application for additional accommodation from the school to which he refers has been approved. My Department is making devolved funding available to the school to meet its needs with a permanent structure. The school authorities have been notified of my Department's decision.
- 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 level...
- Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is outlined in the document below. Advertisements to promote policies/programmes being implemented by the Department of Education and Science during first six months of 2009 Name of Campaign or Programme Cost Scholarships to the European University in Florence â¬6,920.04 Approval of the Summer Works Scheme â notice to eligible building contractors about...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 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 — Stay Safe Programme: Stay Safe Programme (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Continuing Professional Development to support the implementation of the Stay Safe programme is provided by the Child Abuse Prevention Programme (CAPP). Results of a survey on the uptake of Stay Safe carried out by CAPP and my Department in 2006 showed that at that time: 2,514 schools were providing the programme, 472 were not providing the programme, and 263 schools were not teaching the...
- Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: An Interdepartmental Committee chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which includes my Department is currently considering the requirements of the Convention including what action is necessary before ratification can proceed.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As outlined in the response to the Adjournment Debate to which the Deputy refers, the Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be needed at primary and post-primary levels for future school years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected...
- Written Answers — School Management: School Management (23 Jun 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Instances in which a school may have very serious difficulties come to the attention of my Department from time to time. Of the over four thousand schools in the state, only a small number come to the attention of my Department in this way. While responsibility for general school improvement rests primarily with the staff and board of management of each school and with the school's trustees...