Results 6,201-6,220 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department does not have the authority to use compulsory purchase orders in relation to matters arising from site acquisitions for school building purposes. This also applies to the VECs and Higher Education Institutions.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy, indicated that there were 622 pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September 2007. In accordance with the staffing schedule, this entitles the school to a Principal and 23 mainstream class teachers for the 2008/2009 school year. The school also has 3 special classes for deaf children. The...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question was allocated funding by way of an all-in grant to a maximum of €100,000 to provide a temporary classroom. The sanction included, as standard, an option for the Board of Management of the school to use the all-in grant of up to €100,000 towards the cost of constructing a permanent classroom if it so wished. This innovation was introduced in July of this year to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Late last week my Department received a letter from the board of management of the school to which the Deputy refers enclosing a report from their insurers. This report is currently being examined by officials in my Department who will be in contact with the school authorities in this regard.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which reflects the type of works required and the urgency...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile this information and to forward it to him in due course.

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not received the correspondence referred to. My Department provides annual funding to the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) towards a range of awards, including post-graduate scholarships, which are available to those who wish to pursue research at recognised higher education institutions in Ireland. As the primary...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A stage submission is awaited from the Design Team. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for an extension project. The application is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a Band Rating which reflects the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has an application for a new school on a new site with the Department. It has a band rating of 1. As the Deputy will be aware a suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises of three plots of land with three separate vendors. Officials from my Department are in contact with key stakeholders with a view to exploring the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for an extension. 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 this project to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a suitable site has been identified for the school in question. My Department has confirmed acceptance of the Trustees' offer for the sale of a portion of the site, with the remainder of the site being gifted by the Trustees. When the site acquisition issues have been completed, the proposed building project, which has a band rating of 2.1, will be considered in...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an application for emergency funding from the school in question. An official from my Department's Planning and Building Unit has been in contact with the school authorities requesting further information in relation to the application. When this information is received, the application will be considered without delay and the decision will be communicated to the...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. I understand from enquires made by officials of my Department that the NEWB are providing assistance to the mother of the child concerned in respect of this matter. Pending the securing of a school place for the child Home...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The protection of personal data is a fundamental and ongoing aspect of the work of my Department. My Department is committed to protecting personal data and takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the data it holds is protected. Data protection compliance is part of induction training for all new staff. In addition, 256 members of staff have completed records management training, which...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows. In 2008 to date no desktop computers, laptops or blackberry devices were reported lost, stolen or missing. One USB memory key was reported lost but was subsequently found. No sensitive or private data was compromised.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department issued €34.3 million in 2007 for emergency works in schools. To date in 2008, the Department has issued €22.9 million. A breakdown of this funding allocation on a month-by month basis is not readily available. My Department will continue to give grant aid for emergency works to schools. However, in light of the competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, all...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together. In light of the many demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is necessary to prioritise all requests for expenditure within the context of available resources. As part of the administrative arrangements within the Planning and Building Unit of my Department, a small number of senior officials from within the Unit, review all...