Results 6,001-6,020 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Design team fees are paid following the completion of stages as a project works it's way through architectural planning. Given the number of projects involved and the time it takes for each project to progress through the stages of architectural planning incurring fee payments at each stage along the way, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and would require an...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently announced a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools under the Commission on School Accommodation. I intend to establish a Technical Working Group under the Commission to undertake a full review of the criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools. This working group will begin work in the coming...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department was made aware of proposals to establish a new Gaelscoil to serve Tyrrellstown/Hollystown in August 2008. A formal 'Notification of Intent' to establish this new school was received from the proposed Patron, An Foras Patrunachta in September 2008. However, as the Deputy will be aware, I announced a review of the procedures for recognising primary schools on 14 September last....

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an application for emergency funding from the school in question and additional information in relation to this application has recently been received. This information is currently under consideration by officials in my Department. The Management Authority of the school in question will be informed of the outcome in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: All applications for capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria to determine the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity etc. leading ultimately to an appropriate accommodation solution. Projects are then selected for inclusion in the School Building and...

Written Answers — Funding Applications: Funding Applications (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is no record of an application for dormant accounts funding by the school referred to by the Deputy having been received in my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The two Devolved Schemes, the Small Schools Scheme and the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, were originally introduced on a pilot basis for 38 schools in 2003. Due to the positive feedback from schools, they were extended to cover 699 more schools between the years of 2004 and 2007. The purpose of these devolved schemes are to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers to has an application for a new school on a new site with the Department. A suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises three plots of land with three separate vendors. Officials from my Department are in contact with key stakeholders with a view to exploring the options open to advancing the proposed acquisition....

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers to has an application for a new school on a new site with the Department. A suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises three plots of land with three separate vendors. Officials from my Department are in contact with key stakeholders with a view to exploring the options open to advancing the proposed acquisition....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to provide a new building for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2a (developed sketch scheme) of architectural planning. The revised stage 2a is being assessed at present by the Department and it is expected that the Department will back in touch with the school authorities on this matter shortly. The progression of all large scale building projects from...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As stated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 655 of 17 June, 2008, the development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. My Department was in contact with the School Authorities earlier this year informing them that it is not in a position to organise a technical inspection of the school at this time due to demands for higher priority projects. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project,...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are no specific proposals to centralise the payment of VEC salary and pensions. However, the Department is exploring the possibility of increasing the use of shared services across the Education sector in order to ensure value for money and efficiency in the delivery of services.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware that there are more females than males entering the teaching profession and believe that it is important to attract more men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in our schools. I believe that teaching is an attractive...

Written Answers — Primary Schools Funding: Primary Schools Funding (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issues referred to in the question from my Department's perspective are that of funding for schools to help deal with their day to day running costs. Firstly, I wish to state that my Department is aware of the funding pressures on schools. It is also clear that there is a need for further improvements on funding levels. However, this can only be achieved in a manner that is consistent...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The scheme of release time for principals enables teaching principals of primary schools to be released from their teaching duties for a specified number of days annually to undertake administrative leadership and management functions. The number of days release time allowed varies between 14 and 22 and is determined by the number of mainstream class teachers in the school. The recruitment...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The precise information which the Deputy has requested is not readily available. However, data in relation to the number of primary school administrative principals by county for the 2007/08 school year is as follows: Primary Administrative Principals by County County Non-Teaching Principals Carlow 11 Cavan 9 Clare 19 Cork City 46 Cork County 66 Donegal 31 Dublin South County 80...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of, and demand for primary teachers.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and a tender report has been received by my Department. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the...