Results 4,501-4,520 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local authority or VEC, as appropriate. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in exceptional circumstances. My Department contacted City of Waterford VEC, the awarding body regarding the case referred to by the Deputy and was advised...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the N4/M4 Area Development Plan indicates that a post primary school will not be required for Kinnegad until post 2011. The Deputy maybe interested to know that my Department recently met with an interested party in relation to a potential development for a second level school and was engaged in subsequent communication with the Local Authority in relation to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department was notified of An Bord Pleanála's decision in late December. The Design Team has recently completed its evaluation of the implications of this decision. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities very shortly. The progression of all large scale projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of the Department's...

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (29 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am not aware of any meetings that have taken place between my Department and the association referred to by the Deputy. My Department does not provide funding to the association in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I recently announced 10 major school building projects which are to re-tender and to proceed to construction in 2009. The two schools referred to by the Deputy were part of this announcement. The projects are being re-tendered under the new form of contracts for public capital projects to get better value for money. These projects are now to start the re-tendering process so that...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There has been no delay in my Department in dealing with the issues that arose in connection with pigs that have been or may have been exposed to contaminated feed. Immediately following receipt of the PCB positive results, movement restrictions were placed on 17 pig farms. There were in excess of 130,000 pigs on the farms from where pigs are to be slaughtered. After consultation with the...

Written Answers — Physical Education: Physical Education (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: At primary level, physical education (PE) is one of the six secular curriculum areas in the revised Primary Curriculum. The curriculum was revised in 1999 and implemented on a phased basis, with PE being introduced in 2005/6 prefaced by a national programme of in-service training for teachers. At post-primary level, in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools physical...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As a result of the 2009 Budget provisions for Education, arising from current economic challenges and following subsequent proposals from the management bodies of primary schools, new arrangements are being put into place for substitution cover for uncertified sick leave for teachers in primary schools. In primary schools there will be substitute cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 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 multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level in relation to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is responsible for all aspects of the assessment and approval of schools including the decision to procure schools via Public Private Partnership (PPP). This included the setting of project budgets, the development of output specifications in accordance with Department guidelines and other service requirements and agreeing the Public Sector Benchmark (compiled with the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department purchased a site for the school in question. There are no ongoing discussions by my Department in relation to adjacent lands for the school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on the 23rd January last, I announced details of 10 major school building projects which are to proceed to tender and construction. The project for the school to which the Deputy refers, which is for a new school, is included in this list. While all of the projects concerned were previously offered for tender, they will now be re-offered under the new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application from the school in question in December 2008 for funding for a proposed new 3 classroom school. My Department will be in contact with the school in relation to its application.

Written Answers — ICT Support Service: ICT Support Service (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Value for Money Review of the ICT Support Service, addressing the work of the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), the ICT Advisory Service and specific posts assigned to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, was undertaken by my Department. While concluding that the ICT Support Service was generally effective and efficient, the Report recognised that each...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In December last, my Department wrote to the school to which the Deputy refers approving payment of fees in respect of the stage which that building project has reached. My Department is currently awaiting the submission of invoices for the fees in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from the Planning & Building Unit of my Department have recently been in contact with the school in relation to this matter. The school has been informed that the stage submission has been accepted in principle and that it is now in order for the design team to submit fee invoices in respect of their work to date.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. In June 2007, following the General Election, the Minister for Education and Science Ms Mary Hanafin, T.D., appointed the following staff: Name Title Salary scale at time of appointment Pension Arrangements Ms. Averil Power Special Adviser €82,016 – €101,440 Member of the Non-contributory Pension Scheme for...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The pupil teacher ratio for the establishment of special classes for children with special educational needs attached to mainstream primary schools and special schools is determined by reference to the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report. These ratios range from 6:1 to 11:1 depending on the level of disability....

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (28 Jan 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 impact...