Results 5,021-5,040 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 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 — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 to 202, inclusive, together. Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement reached with the Religious Congregations on 5th June 2002, the Congregations agreed to make a contribution of â¬128 million towards the cost of the Redress Scheme. This sum was broken down as follows: Property Transfers â¬76.86m; Cash Contribution â¬41.14m; Provision of Counselling...
- Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 225, inclusive, together. Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement reached with the Religious Congregations on 5th June 2002, the Congregations agreed to make a contribution of â¬128 million towards the cost of the Redress Scheme. This sum was broken down as follows: Property Transfers â¬76.86m; Cash Contribution â¬41.14m; Provision of Counselling...
- Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 242, inclusive, together. Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement reached with the Religious Congregations on 5th June 2002, the Congregations agreed to make a contribution of â¬128 million towards the cost of the Redress Scheme. This sum was broken down as follows: Property Transfers, â¬76.86m; Cash Contribution, â¬41.14m; Provision of...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large-scale capital funding for a new building. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all major building projects, including this project, from initial design through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced, over 3,000 projects, costing in excess of â¬300 million, have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 has been on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced, over 3,000 projects, costing in excess of â¬300 million, have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 has been on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. 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...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 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 have arranged for the details...
- Written Answers — Third Level Examinations: Third Level Examinations (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Higher Education Authority (HEA) does not collect information on the numbers of first year students failing their year-end exams. While it is not possible therefore to provide an overall figure on failure rates, certain information is available on overall numbers progressing from first year to second year in the university sector by comparing the cohort sizes across successive academic...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)
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. Prudent management of the Government finances is...
- Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from my Department met with officials from South Dublin County Council and representatives from the school referred to by the Deputy on 11 November 2008. The meeting sought to address the funding issues referred to by the Deputy and I can confirm that progress was made. Discussions on the funding of the sports complex are ongoing between the parties involved.
- Written Answers — Further Education Sector: Further Education Sector (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Teaching Council has submitted draft regulations for registration to my Department, and these deal with all the relevant sectors including the one referred to by the Deputy. These regulations are currently under review by the relevant sections within my Department.
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's budget for next year has been prepared on the same fundamental basis as any other year by estimating the number of teachers that will be employed under the different categories given the policies in place, for example, mainstream classroom teachers, special needs and language support teachers and allowing for any change in overall demographics. Specifically In relation to...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not received an application for car parking and drop-off facilities at this school. Should an application be received for funding for such works, it will be assessed and the school authorities notified of the outcome without delay.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Dec 2008)
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 were included in the...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 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 have arranged for the details...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Dec 2008)
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 were included in the...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 261, inclusive, and 263 to 272, inclusive, together. 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...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I previously advised the Deputy on the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional...