Results 4,321-4,340 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction. The project to which the Deputy refers was not included in this announcement therefore, it is unlikely that this project will be progressed to construction in 2009. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the school to which the Deputy refers, from...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the schools to which the Deputy refers is currently awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. As the Deputy will be aware, last week, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The projects to which the Deputy refers was not included in this...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My predecessor, Minister Hanafin, represented the Government in New York for the St. Patrick's Day period in 2008. The overall cost of the visit was €17,169.44. Minister of State Seán Haughey represented the Government in Poland for the St. Patrick's Day period in 2008. The overall cost of the visit was €3,210.04. The breakdown of costs associated with these official visits is set out...

Written Answers — School Inspections: School Inspections (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Responsibility for school improvement rests primarily with the staff and board of management of each school and with the school's trustees or patron. Evidence from the school responses submitted by school management in response to individual inspection reports and from other sources shows that in most cases, schools have the ability, either through their own resources or with the assistance...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (12 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy 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 (12 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The School to which the Deputy refers applied for a large scale extension project. The long term accommodation needs of the school have been determined as an 8 classroom school. 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...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (12 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Institutes of Technology are statutory bodies established under the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under the terms of these Acts, the governance and day-to-day management of the Institutes, including procedures for dealing with allegations of bullying and harassment, are matters for which the Governing Bodies and the Management of the Institutes are responsible. All...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by eight Higher Education Institutions — UCD, UCC, NUIM, NUIG, TCD, UL, DCU and DIT. These institutions provide third-level places on reduced Leaving Certificate points to students who meet specified socio-economic criteria and...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The second Schools PPP bundle, which consists of six schools including the school referred to by the Deputy, was handed over to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in May 2008. The NDFA advertised the bundle in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEC) on 20th May 2008. This tender competition is being procured using the competitive dialogue procedure as provided for...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers have applied 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 competing demands on the capital budget...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (12 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The following tables provide the information requested by the Deputy on statistics regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by my Department in the years 2007 and 2008. All FOI requests received by my Department are processed in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, as amended in 2003, and are either granted or refused on that basis. Over...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As I indicated to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 666 on 8 July 2008, the commitment to ensuring early intervention for preschool children with special educational needs is being addressed in the context of the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004 and Disability Act 2005. In the light of the current financial circumstances, it is not possible to proceed with the full...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that earlier today I announced 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction. The project to which the Deputy refers was not included in this announcement therefore, it is unlikely that this project will be progressed to construction in 2009. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the school to which the Deputy refers,...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (12 Feb 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 will also have a major...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: A project for a new 12-classroom generic repeat design building for the school to which the Deputy refers is at the early stage of architectural planning. In this regard, a revised stage 2a submission (developed sketch scheme) is being examined in my Department. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage to construction phase,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Information on the band rating of the ten major school building projects I announced in January for retender and construction is contained in the table that follows this reply. The projects will create almost 2,500 new school places at primary and post-primary levels. The projects, all of which were previously tendered, are to be offered to the market again to get better value for money....

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a refurbishment project for the school to which he refers is included among the list of major school building projects which I announced today to go to tender and construction this year. My officials will shortly be contacting each school on the list about the next steps they should take to progress their projects.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed 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 from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (11 Feb 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (11 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland Board of Education, led by Archbishop John Neill, on 13 November last. The meeting provided me with an opportunity to explain at first hand the context for the budget changes that were of concern to the Bishops and the schools serving the Church of Ireland and other minority churches. In the course of the...