Results 3,621-3,640 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information on major school building projects in County Kildare sought by the Deputy is included in the following tables. Of the projects in architectural planning listed in Table 1, those at stage 2 and 3 have all been approved to progress to tender and construction this year. The three projects at stage 1 are currently in the very early stages of architectural planning and further...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is still 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...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 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. 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 Building and Modernisation Programme....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department will continue to provide funding to the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences for the provision of PhD scholarships this year. However, due to current budgetary constraints, there will be some reduction in the numbers of awards made by the Councils in 2009 compared to last year.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to confirm that my Department has recently provided funds to the Galway City Vocational Education Committee to enable them to close the sale on the site for the school mentioned by the Deputy. This school is included in my Department's PPP school building programme. Three separate bundles have been announced to date and they are progressing through the procurement process. The...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has recently written to the Institute referred to by the Deputy seeking a fully developed proposal regarding the proposed relocation of its campus. The matter will be examined in full when the requested detail has been provided to my Department.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the child referred to by the Deputy is enrolled in a class for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) which is to be suppressed this September. I wish to assure the Deputy that there will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The post primary school project referred to by the Deputy is included in the list of seven schools which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This Bundle is in the pre procurement stage and my Department has completed a round of stakeholders' meetings in each of the locations where PPP schools are to be provided. A detailed...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (9 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A site currently in the ownership of the Health Service Executive (HSE) is under consideration by my Department. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has had a series of meetings with representatives of the City and County Managers' Association (CCMA) to agree on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding on the acquisition of sites for school planning purposes. I understand that a detailed draft has been jointly prepared and was to be discussed at a CCMA meeting on the final terms of the Memorandum. While a formal response...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme is divided into a number of component elements or sub programmes, including a sub programme for the provision for Furniture and Equipment. Appropriate classroom furniture is provided as part of extension/new school buildings funded by my Department. There are no plans to withdraw these grants at present. Schools requiring additional...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of my Department's third level maintenance grants schemes, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending approved third level courses in approved institutions. An approved course for the purpose of the schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications submitted for the Summer Works Scheme in 2008, including one from the school in question, are currently being assessed. The school authority in question will be notified of the outcome of this assessment in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department focused on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008, with a particular emphasis on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Accordingly, funding was not made available for a Summer Works Scheme in 2008. I recognise...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act requires a Ministerial Order to provide for its commencement. However, I have indicated my intention to amend Section 30 so that a school may employ unregistered personnel on a time limited basis in limited circumstances. I believe that the above proposed legislative arrangement reflects the situation facing schools today where it is not always...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The budget measures will impact on individual schools in different ways depending on whether enrolment is rising or declining and the degree to which any one school has more teachers than it is entitled to under the allocation processes. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. I suggest that the parent contacts the State Examinations Commission (Entries Section) to discuss arrangements for her son to sit the Junior Certificate at 009064-42702/42703/42706 or by e-mail: entries@examinations.ie. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them cater for pupils with special educational needs. Such supports may include learning/resource teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. Resource-teacher hours are allocated on behalf of individual students with special educational needs. The core...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (8 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Transition Year offers pupils a broad educational experience with a view to the attainment of increased maturity, before proceeding to further study and/or vocational preparation. It provides a bridge to help pupils make the transition from a highly-structured environment to one where they will take greater responsibility for their own learning and decision making. Pupils will participate...