Results 5,861-5,880 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: In September, 2001, the Commission on School Accommodation published a Report entitled "Amalgamation of First Level Schools". This Report contains the model for the amalgamation process. The Report is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that a stage 2A submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) has been received by my Department for the project to which he refers. This has been examined by my Department's professional and technical staff. On foot of this examination, further information has been sought from the Design Team to enable final approval of this stage of architectural planning.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is in the advanced stages 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 light of current...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that as part of a fast-track programme, my Department is in the process of providing an 8 classroom temporary school to meet the immediate accommodation requirements in Saggart. This school will be ready for occupation in the coming weeks. The long term plan is to provide a 16 classroom school and ancillary accommodation as per Department guidelines. My...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Where plans cost are submitted which exceed Departmental norms, it is a matter for a Design Team to make the necessary revisions to bring the cost plan into line. At the commencement of the design process, it is made clear to Boards of Management and Design Teams that any failure to meet Departmental requirements throughout the architectural planning process can result in project delays....
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Projects are allowed to proceed through the School Building and Modernisation Programme, in a manner consistent with the Band rating assigned to them under the published prioritisation for large scale building projects and when the funding is...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is responsible for all aspects of the assessment and approval of schools including the decision to procure schools via Public Private Partnership (PPP). This included the setting of project budgets, output specifications and other service requirements and agreeing the Public Sector Benchmark (compiled with the assistance of the NDFA). Once my Department has carried out these...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 606 together. Significant progress has been made in the last ten years in increasing the number of teachers in our primary schools. The number of teaching posts in primary schools in June 1997 was approximately 21,000. The number in September, 2008 is over 31,000 which is an increase of over 10,000. The average primary class size for the 2007/08...
- Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Education Budget for 2009 has provided for improvements to the overall level of funding for primary schools which will see funding increase from â¬167 million in 2008 to almost â¬190 million in 2009. The primary capitation grant has been improved by more than â¬21 to bring the rate to â¬200 per pupil. The ancillary services grant for primary schools will also be improved by â¬3.50...
- Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Universities Act (Section 52),1997 and the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999 prohibit the use of the terms 'University', 'Institute of Technology' or 'Regional Technical College' where the organisation is also engaged in the provision of education services unless the Minister for Education consents to the use of the term. The organisations referred to by the Deputy do not...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the recent letter from Senator O'Toole to the Comptroller and Auditor General proposing a Value for Money review of the Planning and Building Unit of my Department. My Department always extends full co-operation to the Comptroller and Auditor General and his staff, who regularly carry out reviews of aspects of the operation of the of the Planning and...
- Written Answers — Staff Remuneration: Staff Remuneration (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has at all times indicated to the third level institutions concerned that the levels of remuneration sanctioned for the posts in question should not, under any circumstances, be exceeded without prior approval. Officials from my Department together with officials from the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Finance are now reviewing the position with each of the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together. As part of any application for major capital works, my Department assesses the long term projected enrolment of a school. Where a project is being considered for imminent inclusion on the School Building and Modernisation programme, a site visit is often organised in order to inform the final brief for the project and to determine the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Year Total Education Expenditure Gross Domestic Product % â¬'000 â¬m % 2000 4,233,233 104,620 4.0 2001 4,791,378 116,939 4.1 2002 5,390,451 130,215 4.1 2003 5,864,783 139,413 4.2 2004 6,597,296 148,975 4.4 2005 7,217,797 162,168 4.5 2006 7,896,897 177,286 4.5 2007 8,704,590 190,603 4.6 2008 Estimate...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy for the period in question is not readily available at my Department. I have requested officials at the Personnel Section of my Department to compile the information and forward it to the Deputy in due course.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Staffing issues, including the issue of absenteeism, are a matter for the HR function of each of the agencies under the aegis of my Department. This information is not monitored or collated centrally and is consequently not readily available. However if the Deputy is interested in a particular agency my Department officials will be happy to arrange for the provision of this information.
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Early retirement schemes are not generally available in organisations under the aegis of my Department. However, in particular circumstances arising in two such organisations, early retirement was availed of by 7 staff over the past 3 years. St Catherine's College of Education in Home Economics closed on 31 August 2007. The decision to close St. Catherine's was made following consideration...
- Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Board: Residential Institutions Redress Board (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Redress Board's primary function is to provide financial redress to persons who, as children, were abused while resident in Industrial Schools, Reformatories or other institutions that were subject to State regulation or inspection. The closing date for receipt of applications was the 15th December 2005 by which time the Board had received 14,513 applications. The Board has received a...
- Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Board: Residential Institutions Redress Board (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement reached with the Religious Congregations on 5 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¬76.68 million; Cash Contribution, â¬41.14 million; and Provision of Counselling Services, â¬10 million. In actual terms,...
- Written Answers — Modern Language Teaching: Modern Language Teaching (21 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with the rules, each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. It is a matter for the school to employ teachers up to the limit of its...