Results 4,861-4,880 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

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, 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An extensive project for the school referred to by the Deputy is nearing completion. As is normal, the school's consultant architect provided certification relating to satisfactory progress at various stages of the works. My Department funded the school, who were the party to the contract, on receipt of the certification to enable payments to be made to the contractor as required under...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502, 507 and 524 together. 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...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a General Purposes Room. Projects of this nature attract a Band 3 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Because of the substantial number of higher priority projects that must be funded from the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The staffing allocation for the academic year 2009/10 will therefore be based on the enrolment figures as of 30 September 2008. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued...

Written Answers — : (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has advertised a full-time Visiting Teacher post to be based in County Mayo. It is hoped to fill the post as early as possible in 2009.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included reductions on the aid for school books scheme. From 2009 this grant will be available only to schools within the DEIS scheme. Three schools under the management...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The condition in the 2008 maintenance grant schemes relating to residency requires, in the case of an 'Independent Mature Candidate' the candidate himself/herself shall have been ordinarily resident in the administrative area of the Local Authority from 1st October 2007. The candidate, referred to by the Deputy appealed Louth County Council's decision not to award a Higher Education Grant...

Written Answers — Whole School Evaluations: Whole School Evaluations (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Whole-school evaluation (WSE) is a model of external evaluation for primary and post-primary schools that was formally introduced during the school year 2003/2004. WSE provides an external view to a school on the quality of its work and advice on how that work could be strengthened and improved. In the 2004-2008 period, whole-school evaluations were conducted in 241 post-primary schools...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 to 514, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware I have recently established a Technical Working Group under the Commission on School Accommodation to undertake a full review of the criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna. This working group will begin work shortly and it is expected that the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. The further progression of the acquisition of the site will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to the Department for school buildings generally. In light of the many competing...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has taken no decision in relation to this matter. 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.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my intention to have a Summer Works Scheme in 2009. The details of the operation of the scheme in 2009 and the level of funding to be made available are currently being considered and this work will be completed as soon as possible. The Professional and Technical Reports provided by schools for 2008, including the application from the school referred to by the Deputy, can be used...

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

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. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and postgraduate courses in non-EU countries. An approved college in the State, in relation to a year of assessment,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is at the fore front of design with respect to energy efficiency in school buildings. Its Technical Guidance Documents, which set the benchmark for low energy design in schools are clearly focused on energy efficiency and are based on solid energy research projects. It has been demonstrated that all Primary School's designed and built in line with this can have an energy...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: An extension and refurbishment project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The Department received a stage 1/2 submission from the Design Team, however, further information has been requested from it on foot of this. Design Team fees only accrue for payment when a stage submission is fully complete and approved by the Department.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the recent budgetary announcements do not affect the criteria used for the allocation of additional teaching and care resources in Special Schools. Capitation funding for Special Schools has also been increased bringing the top rate up to almost €1,000 per pupil. I am particularly pleased that, in order to strengthen and enhance services, and...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the initiative referred to by the Deputy is the Certificate in Contemporary Living which is delivered by the National Institute for Intellectual Disabilities (NIID) in Trinity College. This is a two-year, full-time programme which commenced in October 2005. The Certificate programme aims to promote the full inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities by...