Results 3,521-3,540 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: 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 in the budget for schools that have a significant...
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am finalising arrangements for the implementation of the Budget announcement and will inform all members in the very near future of these arrangements.
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: 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 2009 and onwards. 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. It has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria of my Department and assigned a Band rating of 2.2. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in question, from initial design stage...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As part of my Department's current review of prefabricated accommodation, contact is being made with all suppliers of prefabricated accommodation in relation to existing rental contracts. Therefore, I am not in a position to provide information on payments to individual companies, as requested by the Deputy, due to commercial sensitivity. I can say, however, that a total of almost â¬27m...
- Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The requirement for a Health and Safety Statement for the work place is governed by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This Act, which is regulated by the Health and Safety Authority, sets out the main provisions for securing and improving the safety, health and welfare of people at work which includes the control of safety and health at work, the management and organisation...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The amount spent in 2008 in respect of costs associated with site preparation, including architect and surveyor fees, delivery, installation and removal costs for rented prefab accommodation in 2008 was â¬10.5 million. It is too early at this stage to project the portion of the â¬48m which will be spent on such costs in 2009.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Circular 0022/2009 outlines the Government decision to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium across the civil and public sector with effect from 27th March, 2009. With effect from 27 March 2009 schools may no longer make any appointment to a post of responsibility including those that may have fallen vacant on or before 27 March 2009. Accordingly schools must immediately cease any...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Following the Government decision on the moratorium on promotions in the Public Service my Department issued a circular to all schools indicating that with effect from 27 March, 2009 schools may no longer make any appointment to a post of responsibility including those that may have fallen vacant on or before 27 March, 2009. This Circular 0022/2009 is available on my Department's website....
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table. Expense Account Credit Card Holder Credit Limit Year Expenditure Minister â¬10,000 2008 â¬1,760.48 2009 â¬7.60 Private Secretary to Minister â¬10,000 2004 â¬825.29 2005 â¬1,605.07 2006 â¬5,829.65 2007 â¬459.35 2008 â¬3,240.74 2009 â¬1,608.38 ...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted two applications for emergency funding to my Department in 2009. The first application relating to funding for special needs pupils has been approved and the school informed accordingly. The second application for works relating to roof repairs, heating upgrade, art room and toilet refurbishment is under consideration and the school management...
- Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (23 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that the Department of Education and Science is meeting the agreed national target figure of at least 3% for employment of persons in its offices with a disability.
- Pension Provisions. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The person in question gave casual and intermittent service which was non-pensionable up until recently. However arising from recently introduced improvements in superannuation, the details of which are being finalized at present, it will be possible for the person to reckon the service for superannuation purposes subject to payment of certain contributions. As an interim measure, and...
- Departmental Charges. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is not readily available in my Department and is currently being compiled. I will arrange to forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Schools Building Projects. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. It has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria of my Department and assigned a Band rating of 2.2 The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in question, from initial design stage...
- Site Acquisitions. (22 Apr 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.
- School Transport. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The School Transport Section, of my Department, has requested the Transport Liaison Officer (TLO) for County Leitrim to consult with Bus Ãireann regarding the background to the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. My Department has also asked the TLO to communicate directly with the Deputy.
- Schools Building Projects. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As I have indicated to the Deputy on previous occasions, my Department became aware of some difficulties with the project on this school when it was nearing completion. Since then, officials from my Department have been in ongoing contact with the parties with the express aim of having the project completed satisfactorily in accordance with the contract and at best value to the taxpayer. In...
- Post-Leaving Certificate Courses. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 723 together. The 2009 provision for the 1,500 additional PLC places is â¬4 million. The estimated full year cost in 2010 is â¬12 million. Currently, there are 30,188 PLC places available in some 195 approved schools and centres nationwide. PLC courses are provided predominantly in the VEC sector, but some community and comprehensive schools and...
- Post-Leaving Certificate Courses. (22 Apr 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 to 722, inclusive, and 740 together. The table below summarises the almost 7,000 new places on education courses that were announced as part of the Supplementary Budget. This includes an additional 1,500 PLC places in the Further Education Sector and 5,410 places in the Higher Education Sector. The position in relation to the allocation of the 1,500 PLC...