Results 3,301-3,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for co-ordinating special needs education provision at local and national level and arranging for the delivery of special education services. I understand that the school referred to by the Deputy has been in contact with my Department...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. My Department recently approved the Revised Stage 2(a) submission subject to certain comments being fully addressed. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a building project. I met with a deputation from the school in December when they outlined proposals to overcome the difficulties which had arisen in obtaining planning permission for the extension and refurbishment of the existing school. My Department will consider how best to address...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are no plans to offer a driver education course in Transition Year. However, a Road Safety programme for Transition Year has been developed by the Road Safety Authority in collaboration with my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Second level Support Service and has been offered nationally as an option since September 2008, following a successful pilot...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the general allocation model was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs including children with mild general learning disabilities. When the model commenced, a commitment was given to carry out a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The details supplied by the Deputy relate to the impact on a particular school in Dublin 7 of a number of the budget measures. 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...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the correspondence received in my Department from the school referred to by the Deputy. The school has submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board and this will be considered by the Board at its meeting on the 14th May 2009. The school will be advised of the outcome of the appeal shortly thereafter in the normal way. Details of the criteria under which appeals are...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 school years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In view of the current budgetary constraints I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with a definite date for the acquisition of a site for this school. The further consideration of the proposed site acquisition and any subsequent building project for the school will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

Written Answers — National Disability Strategy: National Disability Strategy (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Disability Strategy supports and reinforces equal participation in society of people with disabilities. Its elements include - the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004, the Disability Act, 2005 and its associated Sectoral Plans published in 2006 by six Government Departments, the Citizens Information Act, 2007 and a commitment to a multi-annual...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has identified a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy and has made a formal offer to the landowner to acquire the site. Contracts are now awaited from the vendor's solicitor to close on the sale. The Deputy will appreciate that given the commercial sensitivities in relation to the acquisition of sites, I am not in a position to comment any further.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 May 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 for an extension and refurbishment project. 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 progression of all large scale building projects, including...

Written Answers — Child Abuse Commission: Child Abuse Commission (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A file containing allegations raised by the person to whom this question refers was opened in 1986. This file along with other similar files was given as part of a voluntary discovery of my Department's records to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in 2001.

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the first instance, I would like to point out that the survey to which the Deputy is referring, has issued to all voluntary post-primary schools, in addition to all primary schools. This survey arose from the talks which led to the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement in 2008. At that time it was agreed that the relevant parties would enter into discussions regarding the terms...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that an application has been received from the school authorities to retain the pupil in question in the school for the 2009/2010 school year. The application is currently being considered and a response will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. As a project progresses through the pre-tender stages of architectural planning, cost estimates for the project are provided by the design team as part of each stage submission. However, until a tender has been accepted on a project, no contractual commitment arises in respect of my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has identified a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy and has made a formal offer to the landowner to acquire the site. Contracts are now awaited from the vendor's solicitor to close on the sale. The Deputy will appreciate that given the commercial sensitivities in relation to the acquisition of sites, I am not in a position to comment any further. Once the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy which is currently under review and it is anticipated a reply will issue to the student shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. My Department recently approved this project to proceed to seek planning permission and work on this is currently being progressed by the school's design team.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 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 for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.3 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from...