Results 3,941-3,960 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding in question will be used to provide for an expansion of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) so that all schools in the country will be covered by the service. The additional funding available to NEPS, which represents a 33% increase over the 2008 allocation, will facilitate the recruitment of up to 50 further psychologists. It is envisaged that this will bring...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: An Implementation Advisory Group, representative of the key stakeholders in the amalgamation process, has been formed to advise my Department in relation to the functions of the new organisation. In parallel with these discussions, my Department is preparing a consultation paper which covers issues such as the proposed functions of the new agency and its governance and reporting...

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department and the Higher Education Authority are currently in the process of arranging for reviews of both the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) and the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI). The Strategic Innovation Fund was introduced in 2006 and there have been two cycles of funding to date. Projects approved under the Fund are aimed at institutional reform,...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I published the Report of the Strategy Group appointed to advise on the priorities for investment in ICT in Schools last July. As the Deputy will be aware, the Report sets out a substantial agenda to be addressed across a range of complementary areas including continuing professional development; ICT equipment; software and digital content; broadband connectivity and technical support. I...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The amount provided in the Budget presented on 14th October last for Schools ICT Activities, in subhead B18 of my Department's Vote, is €26.353m, comprising a current provision of €16.353m and a capital provision of €10m. In addition, my Department will provide ICT equipment grants as part of major building projects under my Department's School Building Programme.

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In terms of the numbers of computers in schools, the 2005 Census of ICT Infrastructure in Schools, undertaken by the National Centre for Technology in Education found that the overall number of computers in schools had increased to an estimated 97,709, which implies an overall improvement in the pupil to computer ratio to 9.1:1 at primary and 7:1 at post-primary. My Department does not have a...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted an application to my Department for funding to replace a prefab with a permanent structure. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will be communicated to the school authority in due course.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have already received a request to meet the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to other diary commitments, I will not be in a position to meet with delegations for several weeks but I will consider the request on hands in the coming months.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Mar 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 needed 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 — Vocational Education and Training: Vocational Education and Training (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 248, inclusive, together. The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) represents the interests, at national level, of the thirty three Vocational Education Committees. The IVEA is recognised by my Department as one of the three second level management bodies under the Education Act, 1998 and the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 2001. The...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recruitment and selection of staff whether for teaching or other positions in a school rests with Boards of Management as employer. Good practice should involve the checking of recent employment records, qualifications, experience and names of referees. While across the country many substitute teachers have previous experience working in schools and may be known to schools there is...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the years 2006 and 2007 is not readily available; however, I can say that the total amount spent on renting prefabricated units for schools in Co. Donegal for 2008 was €1.41m. The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange for free school transport to be made available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10646/09]

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has been formally advised by the school concerned that their Board of Management has decided to seek a Judicial Review of the decision of the Section 29 Appeal Committee in this case to uphold an appeal against a refused enrolment. At this point, it is not possible to say how long it might take to complete the Judicial Review. Home Tuition support is currently being provided in...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (12 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I presume that the Deputy is referring to special needs assistants (SNAs) allocated to schools to enable them support pupils with disabilities who also have significant care needs. As the Deputy will be aware, applications for SNA support are considered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) where a pupil has a significant medical need for such assistance and where there are...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The survey of over 900 schools was primarily carried out to consolidate information already available on individual files in order to set up a database of rented accommodation. It also obtained information on purchased prefabricated units in those schools. Arrangements are being made to conduct a survey of accommodation at primary and post-primary level and this will establish the position...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Maintenance Grant Schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for financial assistance where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, age, nationality and previous academic attainment. A mature student is defined as a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry or re-entry to an...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is a new 32 classroom primary school plus ancillary accommodation. Following an initial pre-qualification process, ten contractors were invited to tender and seven valid tenders were returned by the closing date of 9 March 2009. The valid tenders are currently being examined and, while this process is ongoing, it is not appropriate to provide any...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is being compiled at present and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 220 and 221 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...