Results 6,121-6,140 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Oct 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. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning permission for the proposed project has been received. A report from a local Electrical Contractor outlining issues relating to the electrics in the current school building has recently been received by my Department and a response has issued to the school authorities regarding this....

Written Answers — Strategic Innovation Fund: Strategic Innovation Fund (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government introduced a multi-annual Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) for higher education in 2006 with an allocation of €510 million over the period of the National Development Plan. The Fund is intended to be a major catalyst in bringing about substantial change and quality improvement in our higher education institutions and promoting system-wide collaboration that draws on all...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. The scope for any increases in the capitation grant for primary schools has to be considered in the context of Government budgetary policy and the overall economic climate. My Department is aware of the funding pressures on schools. However, it is important to recognise that progress has been made in recent years that has seen the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Rules for National Schools, the length of the school day for pupils enrolled in infants or first class may, at the Board of Management's discretion, be reduced by one hour to 4 hours and 40 minutes. It is acknowledged that particular circumstances may arise whereby the implementation of the shorter day for these pupils can cause difficulties for some parents. Where...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established on a statutory basis in May 2000 pursuant to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000. The broad terms of reference of the Commission are: to afford victims of abuse in childhood an opportunity to tell of the abuse they suffered to a sympathetic and experienced forum; to establish as complete a picture as possible of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The make up and timing of further school bundles in my Department's PPP school building programme will be determined by my Department in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). The issues to be considered in the timing and bundling of these schools include site availability for each school, geographical spread and the estimated total cost of the proposed school...

Written Answers — Third Level Qualifications: Third Level Qualifications (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following tables. Institute of Technology Full and Part-time Level 8 Graduates 2002/2003-2006/2007 2002/2003 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 Institutes of Technology 7,148 7,866 7,504 8,898 8,532 Overall the number of graduates have increased by 19% however the graduates declined by 4% between 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 ...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 to 535, inclusive, and Question No. 537 together. An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April 2008 from the school referred to by the Deputy. In June, a senior architect from my Department's Planning and Building Unit visited the school and, as a result, an amount of €26,862 was sanctioned to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April 2008 from the school referred to by the Deputy. However, my Department has not received an application for additional accommodation specific to the pupil referred to by the Deputy. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the child referred to by the Deputy is enrolled in a special class for pupils with speech and language disorder. Such classes operate at a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1. In view of this significant support, additional individual resource hours are not provided. An enhanced capitation grant is paid in respect of each pupil enrolled in these classes. The Health Service...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The class size data for primary schools for 2007/08 which the Deputy requested has now been compiled in my Department and is set out in the following table. The statistics for 2007/08 show that there were 309,595 pupils in classes of between 20 and 29 pupils. There were almost 64,902 pupils in classes of less than 20 pupils and there were 95,773 pupils in classes of 30 or more. Number of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage, and will require a technical inspection before a final schedule of accommodation can be agreed. My Department wrote to the Chief Executive Officer of Co Clare VEC in July of this year informing him that it is not in a position to organise a technical inspection of the school at this time due to demands...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The arrangements referred to by the Deputy are to apply as part of the new draft Partnership Agreement. Some preliminary work has been undertaken and discussions will commence on ratification of the Agreement.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The commencement and 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the application in question is currently under consideration and a response will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The appointment and assignment of Special Educational Needs Organisers is a matter for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). I have arranged for this issue to be brought to the attention of relevant officials in the NCSE and have requested that they respond to the Deputy directly in relation to his concerns.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials in my Department are currently liaising with the parents of this child and the National Council for Special Education regarding sourcing a school based placement. In the interim, my Department have confirmed to the parents of the child in question that home tuition funding is available.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including determining procedures to enable the review and appeal of results of examinations at the request of candidates. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you. It should be noted that this type of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The application for a new school is at an early stage 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 competing demands on the capital...