Results 4,941-4,960 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to large scale building projects. Normally, a completed application form for major capital funding is not accompanied by any building plans or documents as these would only be developed once a design team is in place for a project. Initially, a completed application form is assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria, assigned a...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Higher Education institutions are conscious of the need to develop more flexible modes of learning and my Department is working with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to support the expansion of opportunities in this area. Developmental funding has already been allocated under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). One key activity funded by the SIF is the Supported Flexible Learning...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 29 September, the building project for the school in question was one of 25 schools which I announced could proceed to tender and construction. A tender report for this project was previously received by my Department. However, from February 2008 all Capital Works Projects must use the new Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC) Forms...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 7 officers in the Private Office of the Minister of State at my Department, 2 of whom are non Civil Servants. The grades of these officers are: 1 Higher Executive Officer/Private Secretary; 1 Executive Officer 3 Clerical Officers; 2 Civilian Drivers (non Civil Servants). The salary cost of this office in 2008, is anticipated to be in the region of €283,400. There are...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is in receipt of an application for contingency funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue to the school authority as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The management of the school in question wrote to my Department on 20th November 2008 in relation to the replacement of prefabs and sewage/yard works. The school was requested by letter on 1st December to complete and return the appropriate application forms which were supplied to the school. On receipt, the applications will be considered and a response issued to the school management...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for ancillary accommodation. The project, which has a Band 3 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which reflects the type of works needed and the urgency attaching to them. There are four Band Ratings in all with Band 1 being...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 to 450, inclusive, together. In rapidly developing areas where my Department establishes a need for a new post-primary school to meet the educational needs of the area, it is open to recognised Patron Bodies to apply for permission to operate the new school. My Department considers all applications on their merits and also takes into account the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level 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 maintenance grant...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise that meetings have recently taken place between the Department and Dublin City Council regarding the potential availability of a site and the Department has written to the City Council suggesting a lease arrangement be put in place. A response is awaited from the Council in relation to same. The further progression of the acquisition of the site will be considered in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed extension and refurbishment project for the school 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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Dec 2008)

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

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together. Representatives from the school in question hand delivered a submission to my Department's Tullamore office on 2nd December 2008 with proposals for a new 3 classroom school. My Department has no record of any previous application under any of the devolved schemes from the school. My Department will respond to the school's application in...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the schools to which the Deputy refers have agreed to amalgamate. A large scale building project is needed to enable this development. 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: This Government's continued prioritisation of education over the last 11 years is evidenced from our investment in 2009 of €9.6 billion — over treble what it was in 1997. The increase of €302m in the Education budget for 2009 is a real achievement in the current economic climate. Education is one of only three Government Departments to have increased funding in 2009. Each sector in the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Issues: Health and Safety Issues (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Report of a Working Group to examine potential problems caused by the weight of schoolbags, which was presented in July, 1998, acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level. One of the main recommendations of the report related to the need to heighten the awareness of the potential health hazards posed by excessively heavy schoolbags and in this regard, my...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Funding of €1 million has been approved from the Dormant Accounts Educational Disadvantage Programme for a scheme to assist 100 disadvantaged schools to progress towards achieving Digital School Status. The Digital Schools Award is an initiative which recognises excellence in a school's approach to integrating information and communications technology in its learning and teaching. Having...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department made an accommodation offer to the school to which the Deputy refers to enable the establishment of the unit in question. The school recently responded to my Department in relation to this offer. My Department will be liaising with the National Council for Special Education on the content of this response and it will be in contact with the school shortly to progress matters...

Written Answers — University Status: University Status (9 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that applications have been received from three higher education institutions for designation as Universities. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular regarding the existing roles of the Universities and Institutes of Technology which have distinctive missions from each other, provide different levels and...