Results 4,021-4,040 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 together. Forward Planning Section of the Department is 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...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that an application for a new school has been received from the school authority to which he refers. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, 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 capital budget of...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teachers in primary, voluntary secondary and community/comprehensive schools are employed by the school managerial authorities and paid by my Department. Vocational Education Committees employ and pay the teachers in their schools. My Department plans to discuss the details of the cycle to work scheme announced under Budget 2009 with the managerial authorities of schools and the teacher...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: During 2008 the cumulative value of advertising placed by my Department was €340,000. A significant amount of the advertising placed related to teacher education services. Advertisements were placed to fill vacancies for secondment to educational support services such as the education centre network as well as curriculum and subject areas support services at both primary and post...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been no change in the criteria governing the allocation of teaching and/or care resources to pupils with special educational needs. The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have not had any discussions with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs on this issue. As a result of changes in Budget 2009, the book grant is now available only to schools within the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) scheme. By limiting the school book grant to schools within the DEIS scheme, savings of €7.5m will be achieved. DEIS is the action plan for...

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 — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application for emergency funding from the school in question. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will be reached very shortly. The school authorities will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding of €120,000 for the provision of an additional classroom. The management sought an increased grant toward the provision of additional accommodation over and above that approved. The school were advised that in the context of the funding available and the number of applications for that funding, their application was not successful....

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I presume that the Deputy is referring to a project at the school in question for the removal and disposal of a prefabricated unit containing asbestos and its replacement with a new unit. As an application form had not been received from the school, my Department recently contacted the school management in the matter. When the application is received, it will be addressed as a matter of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a building project. 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...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The staffing schedule for the 2009/2010 school year, Primary Circular 0002/2009, has been published on my Department's website at www.education.ie and my officials have written to all schools to notify them in this regard. The number of mainstream class teachers appropriate to a school for 2009/10 school year is determined by reference to the school's valid enrolment on 30 September, 2008....

Written Answers — Schools Buildings Projects: Schools Buildings Projects (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, on 29 September 2008 I announced that the project in question could proceed. Since February 2008, all Capital Works Projects must use the new GCCC Forms of Construction Contracts for Public Works and, as a result, the school was informed that the tender documents for this project would have to be revised prior to proceeding to the invitation of tender. The revised...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has received an application for additional school accommodation from the school authority to which he refers. This application is currently under consideration and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Buildings Projects: Schools Buildings Projects (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The funding information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. There are currently 56 fee-charging second level schools in the country, of which 21 are Protestant, two inter-denominational, one Jewish and the remaining 32 Catholic. Fee-charging schools, with the exception of the Protestant and Jewish fee-charging schools for which special arrangements apply, do not receive...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162, 164, 175 and 176 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (4 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The assessment of means under my Department 's third level student support schemes is based on gross income from all sources of the candidate and his/her parents/guardians, where applicable, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt. It is necessary, therefore, that information regarding all income, including that from after school/weekend employment, is...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (4 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I include for the Deputy's information details held by this Department of the schools in County Laois renting prefabricated units in the tabular statement. The latest information is that currently 20 Primary schools are renting 47 classroom units and 1 Post-Primary School is renting 11 classroom units. The average rental cost per classroom unit for Co. Laois is €13,835. As the Deputy will...