Results 3,921-3,940 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Student Support Bill, which was published in February 2008 provides the legislative framework for the reform of the administration of student grants and the amalgamation of the existing four student grant schemes into a single unified scheme which will be provided for by way of regulation. The principal objective of the Bill is to create a more coherent system for the administration...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought regarding expenditure by my Department on the purchase of prefabricated accommodation will be compiled and sent on to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A copy of a table listing schools renting prefabricated accommodation in Co. Clare follows. The table includes the start dates of rental contracts for all schools listed. The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra teachers in the primary sector alone since 2002. In considering the need to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for a new school building on a greenfield site. The Deputy will be aware that on 12 February, 2009, I announced details of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project for the school in question was not included in this announcement. Therefore, it will not be proceeding this year. However, the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will arrange to have the information requested forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Curriculum & Assessment has developed a new syllabus at Leaving Certificate for Technology; prior to this the subject was available to Junior Certificate level only. The subject was first introduced into Post-Primary schools in September 2007 and will be examined for the first time by the State Examinations Commission in June 2009. 15 additional schools were...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1090, 1091 and 1098 together. 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 appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability (MGLD). These special classes which are to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Details of the criteria and application dates for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0002/2009, which is published on my Department's website. The Appeal Board meets in May, July and October each year to consider cases submitted. Appeals must be submitted to Primary Allocations Section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included the decision to discontinue the annual funding of €97,000 that my Department made available to the Centre for Talented Youth (CTYI) at Dublin City University. While...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In relation to support available for students studying abroad, my Department's student maintenance grant schemes provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other E.U. Member States. An approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My officials recently met with representatives of the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy regarding their need to have my interest, as Minister for Education & Science, released in the former school building and site. The Department has now received a formal request from the school Patron requesting a release of my interest in the property. This matter is currently...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 2057The curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. It identifies the objectives and learning outcomes which students should...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There was no specific library service for children with special educational needs. Information concerning funding to local authorities for the provision of services to schools follows. The local authority librarians selected, purchased, and delivered books to primary schools, which provided a lending and reference service to pupils. It was a matter for the individual local authorities,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1099 and 1101 together. 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 to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that applications have been received from three higher education institutions for designation as Universities; Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. The issue of university designation does not just affect the institutions and the regions from which applications have been received; it also impacts on the future...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a specific payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10643/09]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 233: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a specific payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10644/09]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 234: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a specific application will be approved and payment commence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10645/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Licences: Departmental Licences (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 235: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the assistance that will be given in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who requires to obtain a specific licence. [10747/09]