Results 4,661-4,680 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 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 both...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office as follows: 2 Special Advisors, whom I appointed, one of whom has responsibility for press and communications; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers; 3 Clerical Officers. The total annual salary, overtime and expenses in 2008 for these staff was approximately €452,000. There are currently 5.5 officers in my Constituency Office...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on the 23rd of 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 building, is included in this list. While all of the projects concerned were previously offered for tender, they will now be re-offered under the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The organisation referred to by the Deputy has written to my Department and a reply will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1549 and 1550 together. My Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme is divided into a number of component elements or sub programmes, one of which is the Emergency Works Programme. The level of funding available to each sub programme for 2009 has not yet been finalised. Emergency Works Grants (EWG) are made available to schools most in need of...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1551 to 1553, inclusive, together. The particular emphasis in 2008 was on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Accordingly my Department focused on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008 and...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Forward Planning Section of my 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 developments and capacity of existing schools to meet...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 capitation or related supports. Protestant fee-charging schools receive, and...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on the 23rd of 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 an extension and refurbishment, is included in this list. While all of the projects concerned were previously offered for tender, they will now be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers on a V.E.C. owned site. The progression of a project to provide this accommodation, will, in common with all large scale capital projects, be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 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. The Department has arranged a technical inspection of the various site options...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department have met with County Dublin Vocational Committee to discuss the matter of a site for the school in question and is in ongoing communication in relation to acquiring a long term lease on their property as a potential site for the proposed school.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 23rd January this year I announced details of 10 major school building projects which are to proceed to tender and construction. I intend to make another announcement shortly on further primary and post-primary school projects that will be progressing in 2009.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) was asked to source a site for the school to which the Deputy refers. OPW identified several potential sites and my Department is in communication with the Local Authority in regard to same. The further progression of the site acquisition for the school will have to be considered in the context of the capital budget...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. NEPS does not keep waiting lists for assessments of children but in common with other...

Written Answers — Language Support: Language Support (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1564 to 1567, inclusive, together. In order to meet the language needs of students in our schools whose first language is not English, additional support is given to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of posts. The number of teaching posts allocated for this purpose in the each of the two...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Integrate Ireland Language and Training had a dual remit from my Department to provide direct tuition for adult refugees and to provide support for language support teachers in schools. Their remit has transferred to the VECs in relation to direct tuition for adult refugees. The Primary Professional Development Service now has responsibility for the provision of support for primary...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) has received an application for special needs assistant support for the pupil in question and is awaiting further documentation in support of the application. When this is received and considered, the SENO will convey a decision on the application directly to the school.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for an extension project. A Schedule of Overall Accommodation has been agreed with the Board of Management to cater for a long term enrolment of 850 pupils. The next step is the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to...