Results 3,321-3,340 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The authority from the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for additional accommodation to my Department. The school was approved for a devolved grant which means that responsibility for the day to day management of the project has been devolved to the school authority. A letter has issued to the school advising them of the decision and how to progress their project.

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 wrote to the school detailing several issues which need to be addressed by the design team before the current stage of the project can be completed.

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 2.4 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, it is proposed provide two new schools on a greenfield site to facilitate the amalgamation of Scoil Náisúnta an Chroí Naofa, St Paul's Primary School and Scoil Náisúnta Mhuire, in Portlaoise. The new facilities will be configured as a junior and a senior school and they will cater for some 1,600 pupils. The Patron proposes acquiring a site at Summerhill,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department procured the property to which the Deputy refers initially to act as a temporary home for a special school pending the delivery of a building project for that school and then to accommodate on a permanent basis the school to which the Deputy refers. The building project for the special school is currently in the early stages of architectural planning. Earlier this year I...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides grant aid towards the provision of temporary school accommodation to the management authorities of education providers where it is established that a need for such temporary accommodation exists. Generally, where schools require temporary accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring such temporary accommodation and the rental contract is between...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has no record of having received a formal application from Educate Together for the establishment of a new secondary school in the area referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is unlikely that any consultants or lobbyists have been employed to act for my Department outside the State in the past five years. However I have asked my officials to check our records for the years in question and I will revert to the Deputy with a definitive response as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Language Support Teachers: Language Support Teachers (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 449 together. In light of the Budget 2009 decision my Department has now published a circular for schools which sets out how the new arrangements will operate for the allocation of language support teachers from September 2009. The circular sets out a structured and transparent approach for the operation of the alleviation measures that were announced...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the schools to which the Deputy refers have agreed to amalgamate. A large scale building project of 24 classrooms plus ancillary accommodation will be required to facilitate this development. In that context, I can confirm that an application has been made to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I will forward to the Deputy the information that is available to my Department in relation to the issues he has raised.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Annex F (1.3.2) Extra places at Third Level: The newly developed accelerated Level 6 certificate programmes and the part time transition programmes in the Institutes of Technology have been targeted specifically at unemployed people. The Institutes have worked directly with local FÁS and Department of Social and Family Affairs offices both in terms of marketing the courses and advising...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding arrangements made by my Department for second-level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. My Department provides funding to secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Most of the documentation required in the Letter of Intent that issued to the preferred bidder has been received. However, there is still one document outstanding. When this has been received and meets with my Department's requirements, a formal Letter of Acceptance will issue to the Contractor. It is anticipated that construction work on this project will commence within weeks of the date...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (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 2.1 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister for Education & Science has sponsored the following legislation in the 2004-2009 period which was subsequently passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President - Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (No. 30/2004) Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005 (No. 17/2005) Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: All children with mild general learning disability (MGLD) who are in the classes being suppressed will be able to receive teaching support through the teaching resources allocated to primary schools under the General Allocation Model. Schools decide themselves how best to use this allocation based on the needs of the pupils and how to adjust their support in line with the changing needs of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that a number of amendments are currently being considered arising from a review of the Student Support Bill following the Second Stage debate and further consultations since publication. A number of legal issues have arisen in the course of preparation of the legislation which require further advice and clarification. A number of the amendments to the Student Support Bill are...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Details of the rental and purchase costs of prefabricated accommodation in respect of the schools referred to by the Deputy are given in the following tabular statements. The amounts reflect 100% of total rental cost for prefab units currently rented by these schools. (The Department pays 95% of this amount for schools with permanent recognition and 75% for those with temporary recognition)....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Following an analysis of costs in my Department, it is now the practice to purchase rather than rent temporary accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. This will reduce the incidence of long term rental of prefabs. In July of 2008, I introduced a further innovation which allows those schools with an urgent and pressing need for additional...