Results 3,981-4,000 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502, 503 and 519 together. The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school's architect met with officials from my Department's Planning and Building Unit in January and submitted additional information relating to the current stage of the project in late February. My Department will...
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The position generally regarding the planning process for school building projects is that schools must comply with the requirements of the Local Government Planning and Development Acts. However there has been some recent changes to the legislation which has provided certain exemptions for temporary schools. (These are prescribed in Statutory Instrument 235 of 2008). Also in relation to...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 to 507, inclusive, together. My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to energy efficiency in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification and, recently, by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508, 539 and 547 together. The school to which the Deputies refer was included in my announcement on 12 February of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction during 2009. Officials from my Department will shortly be in contact with the school and its design team to invite them to attend a briefing session which will guide them on the...
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that 30 psychologists have been appointed to the National Educational Psychological Service since 1st June 2008.
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that the following are the number of psychologists who have resigned from NEPS in the past five years: 2005 â 6 2006 â 2 2007 â 2 2008 â 3 2009 â 0
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has confirmed, with the Public Appointments Service, that there are currently 24 individuals on the recruitment panel established for the National Educational Psychological Service.
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware I was pleased to announce in the context of Budget 2009 an increase in the funding, in the order of â¬4.75m, available to the National Educational Psychological Service with which it is envisaged that up to 50 further psychologists can be appointed. I can confirm that this additional funding allocation has been made to NEPS allocation for the current year....
- Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the launch of a process to develop a new national strategy for higher education. The process, which is now underway, is being overseen by a high level steering group, chaired by economist Dr Colin Hunt and comprising national and international expertise including academic, business, community and student interests, as well as senior government...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: An application for replacement of prefabricated classrooms was received in July 2008 from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application was approved and works have reached practical completion. The approved funding is currently being processed.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The transition year grant was abolished for all schools with effect from 1 January 2009. Savings of approximately â¬2.55 million are expected to accrue as a result of its abolition. In framing the budget, a range of very difficult policy choices had to be faced by the Government across all areas of public expenditure, including in the field of education. While education remains a priority...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. Decisions were made in order to control expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long term. In this respect my Department, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be entirely spared, and I acknowledge the impact of funding restrictions in...
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 543 together. My Department is aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputies and has been in touch with the school concerned. 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...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Following a survey of over 900 schools across the country my Department has set up a database giving details regarding their use of prefabricated accommodation. 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 extra teachers in the primary sector alone since 2002. The overall...
- Written Answers — Public Service Pension Levy: Public Service Pension Levy (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: As I stated in my reply to the Deputy on 26 February 2009, secretaries and caretakers in primary and post-primary schools who are not members of a public service pension scheme are not subject to the public service pension-related deduction. There are some secretaries and caretakers who are members of a public service pension scheme, for example in community and comprehensive schools. In...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides grant aid towards the provision of temporary school accommodation to the management authorities of education providers where it is established that a need for such temporary accommodation exists. Generally, where schools require temporary accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring such temporary accommodation and the rental contract is between...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together. The stages of architectural planning referred to by the Deputy arise from my Department's design team procedures for the procurement of major capital projects. These are necessary to comply with Department of Finance guidelines which require that capital projects be fully designed prior to going to tender. They also ensure proper cost...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently 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 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Arrangements are being made to conduct a survey of accommodation at primary and post-primary level and this will establish the position relating to the extent of all accommodation. The specifications for this inventory are being drafted and my Department will be in contact with the education partners in relation to this later this year.