Results 5,221-5,240 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the documentation requested by my officials on foot of the offer of a site is still outstanding as is the Form of Consent to allow my Department apply for planning permission.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Drug prevention education is implemented as part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum in all primary and post-primary schools. The SPHE curriculum is mandatory in all primary schools and post-primary schools up to Junior Certificate Level, and is supported by full-time support services offering professional development to teachers and advice to schools. SPHE is...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office as follows: 2 Special Advisors, one of whom has responsibility for press and communications; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers; 3 Clerical Officers. The total anticipated annual salary and expenses in 2008 for these staff is €452,441. There are currently 5.5 officers in my Constituency Office as follows: 1 Personal...

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled from records within my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The costs involved in renting of off site rental storage for my Departments documents is a matter for the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, who act on behalf of my Department in relation to the rental of off-site storage. The following figures are per sq. m., it is not possible to supply figures for "banker box". The cost of this rental per annum is detailed below:...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme is currently underway and it is expected to be completed during 2009. The final report, once approved, is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, submitted to the appropriate Oireachtas Select Committee and published on the Department's website. As the review...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In line with the requirements of Sustaining Progress, agreement has been reached between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council in relation to the standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and second terms for the school year. Once schools adhere to the agreed standardisation, they have local flexibility in determining how they make up the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy applied for works under the 2008 Summer Works Scheme. Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Strategy: Higher Education Strategy (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the process to develop a new national strategy for higher education. It is envisaged that the process will be led by a high level steering group, who will be able to provide a business, wider community and international perspective. Membership of the steering group is currently under consideration.

Written Answers — Higher Education Budgets: Higher Education Budgets (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Higher Education Authority has advised my Department that five of the universities have notified the Authority that their expenditure will be in excess of their 2008 budget. The universities concerned are University College Dublin, University College Cork, NUI Maynooth, Trinity College Dublin and University of Limerick. The HEA is in continuing correspondence with all the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Strategy: Higher Education Strategy (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The OECD 2004 Review of Higher Education in Ireland stated that the lack of a sufficient supply of doctoral students could seriously hinder Ireland's aim to create a research intensive higher education system and to stimulate much higher levels of industrial research and development. One of its recommendations in this area was that steps should be taken to double the numbers of postgraduate...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 174, 175 and 178 together. The information available to my Department in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy relates only to post primary schools. My Department publishes this information annually in 'List of Post Primary Schools'. I have requested my officials to forward the most recent copy of this publication, relating to the school year...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Statistics on primary schools are published annually by my Department on a county by county basis. The information is currently being collected from schools for the 2008/09 school year and this will be published when completed. My Department interacts with over 3,200 primary schools on many day to day issues including their staffing allocation and grant payments and it is not possible to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am checking what information can be provided in my Department without creating an undue administrative burden and will be forward such information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department will be advising individual schools in the normal way in relation to their staffing allocations. The preparatory work for this has commenced with the processing of enrolment data that has been received from schools. The staffing allocation processes including notification to schools will commence early in the New Year. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 181, inclusive, together. I refer to the recent High Court judgment given in the case of JD -v- The Residential Institutions Redress Review Committee, Ireland and the Attorney General. I wish to advise the Deputy that the content of the judgment, together with its implications, is currently being considered by my Department in conjunction with its...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement reached with the Religious Congregations on 5th June 2002, the Congregations agreed to make a contribution of €128 million towards the cost of the Redress Scheme. This sum was broken down as follows: Property Transfers €76.86m; Cash Contribution €41.14m; Provision of Counselling Services €10m. In actual terms, whilst the overall figure of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Nov 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 — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is examining the feasibility of grouping a number of schools including Ballinamore Community School in the 3rd Bundle of school projects to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This examination is nearing completion and I will be making an announcement about the matter as quickly as possible.