Results 5,361-5,380 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (12 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issue of the re-introduction of third level fees, to which the Deputy refers, should be viewed in the context of the wider funding of higher education. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is investing unprecedented levels of public funding in higher education. In 2008 some €2 billion is being invested in our third level sector. In contributing to the achievement of national...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (12 Nov 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 therefore a real achievement in the current economic climate. Education is one of only three Government Departments to have increased funding in 2009. The...

Written Answers — Community Sports Halls: Community Sports Halls (12 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 279, inclusive, together. The position is that the allocated funding will provide for the operation of the sports halls referred to by the Deputy until the end of 2008. My Department does not fund community facilities and I regret to say that it has not been found possible to identify an alternative source of funds that would enable the facilities to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers on a V.E.C. owned site. 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...

Vaccination Programme: Motion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. The focus of our discourse here this evening must be on prevention because that is what the free screening programme for cervical cancer is intended to achieve. The screening programme, which has been available throughout the country since September, aims to pick women up before they develop cervical cancer. Smear tests have...

Vaccination Programme: Motion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As long as the individual uses the screening process, which would normally mean approximately ten or 11 screenings during the course of her lifetime, it will prevent 95% of cervical cancers. This is the medical reality, although the Opposition would like to distort it in its own political self-interest. We are living through extremely challenging economic times and the Government has had to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my Department's intention to provide a new green field site building for the school, which is the subject matter of the correspondence to which the Deputy refers. The project is currently in the advanced stages of architectural planning. Progress on the new school will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme. However, in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Nov 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. My Department contacted Wexford VEC, the awarding body in this case, and was advised that the issue has been resolved.

Written Answers — Departmental Savings: Departmental Savings (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the 2007/2008 school year the overall cost of substitution cover in primary and all second level schools is estimated at €183 million. The breakdown is as follows: Uncertified sick leave — €17 million, Certified sick leave — €45 million, Official school business Post Primary only — €13.0 million, Maternity and related leave — €65 million, Release time Primary only —...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children must live at least 3.2 kilometres from, and be attending, their nearest National School or school of amalgamation. Primary school transport routes are generally planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 2.4 kilometres to...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, which is being rolled out on a phased basis over the period 2006-2010 provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). DEIS brings together and builds upon a number of existing interventions in schools with a...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The purpose of the decision taken in early 2007 to increase Ireland's contribution to the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund by a maximum of €20 million over a five year period based on matching private sponsorship was to allow the US-Ireland Alliance to further strengthen the US-Ireland Alliance's activities in promoting US-Ireland relations through the provision of scholarships to highly...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, I published the ICT Strategy Group Report, Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools 2008-2013, together with the evaluation report undertaken by my Department's Inspectorate, ICT in Schools, in July. While acknowledging the progress made since the ICT in Schools Programme was first launched some ten years ago, these Reports set out a substantial agenda to be...

Written Answers — Higher Education Sector: Higher Education Sector (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not propose to consider any proposal for designation as a HEA institution pending the completion of the process to develop a new national strategy for higher education. I will be bringing proposals to Government shortly in relation to the terms of reference and process to develop the new strategy which will provide the vision and strategic direction for the future development of the...

Written Answers — School Inspections: School Inspections (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An inspection at the school referred to by the Deputy was carried out by the Health and Safety Authority. The notification for the school was sent to the Chair of the Board of Management of the school and a copy was received by my Department. The report states that the School's Health and Safety Statement of 1999 is out of date and needs to be revised by the Board of Management. As the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 639 together. In relation to the needs of visually impaired children in Co. Mayo, the management of my Department's Visiting Teacher services continues to examine all available options for the provision of a service to the county.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The means test arrangements of the Student Maintenance Grant Schemes have been in operation since 1983 and are applied nationally. In the case of both the employed and self-employed gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. Under the schemes reckonable income is defined as income from: Employment/Pensions; Self...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department incurred costs of €1,319,817.79 in 2007 and €2,039,199.34 in 2008 in relation to certain litigation costs, i.e. for cases before the Courts which involved the Department as a Defendant or Respondent. These would have included litigation relating to Primary and Post-Primary Schools, Community and Comprehensive Schools, Special Educational Needs, school non-attendance,...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Based on current demographic trends my Department anticipates that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in Lucan in the medium term and it is in contact with South Dublin County Council regarding a site for this development. My Department is considering the proposed site options received from South Dublin County Council in this regard. It is intended that this issue,...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (11 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teaching service given in one jurisdiction is not recognised in the other for the purpose of teachers' superannuation awards because, at present, there are no formal arrangements agreed on a North South basis for the mutual transferability of pension entitlements for people working in the public sector, including teachers. However, as the Deputy may be aware, at an Institutional Format...