Results 5,121-5,140 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of â¬302 million in the Education budget for 2009, in making the announcement of the Budget measures for education, I stressed that tough choices had to be made in meeting the needs of the education sector in these difficult times. The resources available to the Department have meant that these choices have been very challenging. The decision made to suspend...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 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 — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I have arranged for an official from my Department to contact the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 to 486, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the cost per year of providing prefabricated buildings for the past 10 years at the school to which he refers is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Since 2004 my Department has provided funding under the Summer Works Scheme and/or Emergency Works Grant for Stella Maris, the CBS, Holy Cross NS and Glór na Mara NS in Tramore. This funding has enabled these schools to carry out works such as windows replacement, heating systems/pipes, ramps, replacement of water tank and girders, and fire alarm. Applications for major extensions are...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise that the tender documents for the school in question have been reviewed. Notification of approval and requirements for proceeding to tender issued on 27 November.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 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 — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers commenced operation in September 2002 with provisional recognition from my Department on the basis that it would be providing multi-denominational education in the Clontarf/Marino/Fairview area of Dublin. Its current location in Glasnevin, which is already served by two multi-denominational schools, was intended to be a purely temporary measure. It is my...
- Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department requested the Office of Public Works to identify a suitable site for the school in question in September 2007. The Deputy will appreciate that the acquisition of a site has to be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department it is not...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 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 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 supplied...
- Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is currently awaiting further information from its consultant architect with regard to the outstanding issues at the school referred to by the Deputy. This matter will be considered further as soon as this information is received.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 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 maintenance...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: An application for an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy and an assessment of the long term needs of the school has been concluded. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School...
- Written Answers — Health and Safety Issues: Health and Safety Issues (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. In this regard, in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards,...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 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...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The budget measures will mean that the level of language support will be reduced from a maximum of six extra teachers per school to a maximum of two teachers per school, as was the case before 2007. Nonetheless, schools that require language support will still be entitled to get it. We still envisage having over 1,400 language support teachers in our schools in September 2009 and up to...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 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 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 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 maintenance...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The candidates referred to by the Deputy submitted appeals to my Department on the 24th November 2008. A decision will issue to them following the examination of their appeals.
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Dec 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I have already received a request to meet the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to other diary commitments, I will not be in a position to meet with delegations for several weeks but I will consider the request on hands in the New Year.