Results 4,841-4,860 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware that the Deputy raised this issues in October last and I wish to inform him that my Department recently completed the process of examining issues relating to the administrative burden on business. The administrative burden on business focuses on commercial private sector organisations and regulations made by my Department which impact on education related bodies such as schools...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established under statute: To afford victims of abuse in childhood an opportunity to tell of the abuse they suffered to a sympathetic and experienced forum. To establish as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of the physical and sexual abuse of children in institutions and in other...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 480 together. The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers has a Band 2.4 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. It is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of projects with a similar and higher band...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Students who qualify for a maintenance grant for their attendance on a recognised full-time approved course in a third-level institution may also qualify for the higher, Special Rate of Maintenance Grant if they satisfy the relevant terms and conditions. The payment referred to by the Deputy is an eligible social welfare payments prescribed under the Scheme. To qualify for the Special...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: School building projects are selected for inclusion in the School Building and Modernisation Programme on the basis of priority of need. My Department achieves this by assessing all applications for large scale capital funding against published prioritisation criteria. These criteria were devised following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, individual...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operate within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will undertake to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Board of Management is the client for the project to which the Deputy refers. An issue has arisen in relation to the appointment of certain Design Team members by the Board. This issue must be resolved by it before the project can be considered for further progress.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from my Department are currently reviewing the Stage 2A submission, i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme. On completion of this review my officials will be in further contact with the school authorities. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Schedules of accommodation have been accepted by County Offaly VEC for the proposed building project at the school to which the Deputy refers. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application to my Department for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2008. Neither the report referred to by the Deputy nor the issue to which it refers formed part of that application. My Department will contact the school concerned regarding the matter. Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced, over 3,000 projects, costing in...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised that officials in the planning and building unit are in the process of finalising the composition of the list of schools referred to by the Deputy and I understand that the list will be forwarded in the coming days.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 491 together. In general the arrangements for supporting secretarial and caretaking services in schools mirror those for providing support funding to the schools concerned. Primary and secondary schools are funded through capitation grants and likewise secretarial and caretaking services are funded by grants that are related to the number of pupils...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Substitution cover will continue to be provided for all other categories of absences currently available such as certified sick leave and maternity leave. In primary schools there will be substitute cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave other than on the first day of absence. In a school where more than one teacher is absent on the first day of uncertified sick leave, substitute...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have arranged for the information sought by the Deputy to be assembled and forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analyses: Regulatory Impact Analyses (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since June 2008 there have been 7 statutory instruments promulgated which relate to the education sector. Four of these are orders of Government; two relate to the delegation of certain Ministerial functions to Ministers of State at my Department, whilst two others were made under the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997 to appoint the Special Advisers in accordance with...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analyses: Regulatory Impact Analyses (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There have been no occasions since June 2008 on which it has been necessary for my Department to conduct a screening RIA on a statutory instrument or Bill. Consequently the matter of a full regulatory impact analysis does not arise.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my intention to make an announcement in the first quarter of 2009 on major primary and post-primary school projects to proceed to construction. The progression of further projects at the schools referred to by the Deputy will be considered at that time.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the secondary school in Gorey is one of seven schools which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. The 3rd Bundle will immediately enter pre procurement which will entail my Department commencing a round of stakeholders meetings, preparation of a detailed output specification and...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The construction of the proposed link road was not a condition of Planning. Rather the Planning Permission required that my Department provide plans to show the future link to the lands to the rear of the proposed inner-relief road. These links shall be provided when/if future development is permitted on the lands to the north-east of the site which are in the ownership of the Minister...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not taken the decision suggested by the Deputy in respect of the home tuition scheme. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is continuing to work with the service provider in question in the context of a proposal which they submitted in relation to home tuition payment arrangements.