Results 5,961-5,980 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them cater for pupils with special educational needs. Such supports include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant (SNA) support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. As the Deputy is aware, there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme, a grant was allocated to the school in question to enable the management authority to extend and modernise their school. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs, rather the terms of the Scheme require the schools to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available funding. The decision...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has received an application for an extension to a school in the area. It has a band rating of 2. The progression of this project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. In light of the many competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issue referred by the Deputy is currently being considered. In this regard, I am advised that my Department has been in touch with the school authorities requesting the submission of the draft lease.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers to has made an application to my Department for a new school building. A suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises of three plots of land with three separate vendors. Originally it was intended that my Department would acquire the required lands and negotiations were progressing on this basis. However earlier this...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and my predecessor Minister Hanafin announced in March 2007 that a support and development initiative for the Irish language under the aegis of An Chomhaire um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta will be located at Coláiste Íosagáin and that four additional staff will be assigned to An Chomairle for this...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The tenders in respect of the six school building projects differ from the civil engineering projects referred to in the newspaper article cited by the Deputy in that they are not in fact based on the costs plus model. The school projects were tendered under the GDLA form of contract based on a fixed price model. As has been standard under this model of fixed price tendering, used by my...

Written Answers — Information Obligations: Information Obligations (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is currently evaluating the number of information obligations which regulations impose on business. This process has yet to be finalised but will be completed shortly. Once the process has been finalised the information relevant to the Deputy's question will be forwarded to him.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for capital funding for an extension project. A Band 2.4 rating has been assigned to the project. This reflects the fact that while there is a deficit of mainstream accommodation, the deficit does not represent a substantial or significant proportion of the schools overall accommodation. The progression of all large scale building projects,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. It has a Band rating of 2.1 which means that there is a deficit of mainstream accommodation and the deficit constitutes a substantial and significant proportion of the school's overall accommodation. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's policy in relation to the retention of pupils in primary schools is set out in Primary Circular 32/03 which issued to all primary schools in December, 2003. The Circular is also available on my Department's website. The Primary School curriculum is designed as an eight year course, including a two year infant cycle followed by six years in standards from first to sixth, with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is to provide a new 16 classroom school building and is at architectural planning. Officials from my Department have received a revised Stage 2A submission, i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme. The Department is currently reviewing the submission. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A stage 2A submission (Developed Sketch Design) has been received by my Department from the school referred to by the Deputy. However, further information has been requested from the Design Team to facilitate a full review of the submission. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together. My Department has national co-ordination responsibility for the transposition of the following two EU Directives on professional qualifications: EU 2005/36/EC on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications; EU 2006/100/EC which includes qualifications in respect of regulated professions in Bulgaria and Romania to be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A new primary school for Seville Place is currently at an early stage of architectural planning and a design team has been appointed for the project. 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....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project for the provision of a new national school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2b of the architectural planning process (detailed design). The current position is that planning permission for the new school has been granted by Drogheda Borough Council subject to a number of onerous conditions which the Department has appealed to An Bord...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Oct 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 (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department, in managing its capital budget must ensure that funding is targeted at schools most in need. That is why my Department introduced prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners in 2004. As part of the assessment of all applications for capital funding by the Planning and Building Unit of my...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question opened in September 2008 and has begun enrolling children on a phased basis. Parents should contact the school authorities directly in relation to enrolment protocols. Assessment services in relation to health services are available through the local Health Service Executive office.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management of a primary school is responsible for the recruitment, selection and appointment of all teachers to a school. The procedures for the appointment of teachers are set out in Appendix D of the publication "Boards of Management Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure (revised November, 2007)", copies of which are...