Results 3,961-3,980 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: 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. These special classes which are to close predate the 2005 General Allocation Model of allocating...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. 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 multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Topographical land surveys and building surveys are generally carried out by the design team appointed to a school building project. This would normally form part of the detailed technical examination of a site as part of stage 1 of the architectural planning process. A Design Team is appointed by the client for the project, which is usually the Board of Management of the school.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Every year my Department invites all second level schools to participate in the Transition Year Programme. Circular 0064/2008 invited applications from schools for the 2008/2009 school year. The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the Transition Year Programme in that school. Guidelines have been issued by my Department to support schools...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The construction of the buildings in question was procured by my Department under a design and build contract. Accordingly, my Department is not responsible for the recording or approving of sub contractors employed by the Design and Build Consortium.

Written Answers — Compulsory Retirement Age: Compulsory Retirement Age (11 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 482 together. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the criteria for allocating additional teaching and/or special needs assistant support for children with autism have not changed. Furthermore the rate of capitation funding payable in respect of special classes for autism attached to both mainstream primary schools and special schools was...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My officials are in contact with the child's parent concerning an application for home tuition funding. A decision on the application will be made as speedily as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has received a major capital application from the school to which he refers. This project has a band rating of 2.1 under my Department's published prioritisation criteria for major capital projects. The building project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is actively engaged in trying to secure a site in the area referred to by the Deputy and has issued instructions to the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) to this effect. The further progression of the acquisition of the site will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to the Department for school buildings generally. In light of the many competing...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 to 489, inclusive, 538, 542 and 567 together. I wish to clarify for the Deputies 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 my Department's decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers to special classes for pupils with a mild...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available prior to 2008, however, I can state that my Department grant-aided the rental of prefabricated units for schools in the Dublin area at a cost of €6.54m in 2008. Details of these schools are given in the tabular statement. The information is not recorded in my Department on a Constituency basis. The Deputy will be aware that...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Based on current demographic trends the Department of Education and Science anticipates that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in Lucan in the medium term and has been in contact with South Dublin County Council regarding a potential site for future educational provision in the area. Officials from the Department recently carried out a technical inspection of the various...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493, 499, 515 and 575 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...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Department Circular 12/96 applies to primary schools funded by my Department and sets out the conditions under which exemption from the study of Irish may be granted to primary pupils. In relation to one criteria, an exemption can be granted for pupils with a specific or general learning difficulty on foot of a report...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a new school building. 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. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has made preliminary enquires with the local authority in relation to its plans for the Dominick Street area of Dublin. As the local authority plans for the area have not, to date, advanced to any significant degree, the Department has not carried out a cost benefit analysis for the project in question. It is not, therefore, possible to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced Stage of Architectural Planning. 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. However, in light of current competing demands on the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed extension and refurbishment project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced Stage of Architectural Planning. 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. However, in light...