Results 6,461-6,480 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Maynooth. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 3 of the architectural planning process. The Client for this project is the School's Board of Management. The stage 3 submission is currently being reviewed by the Client's design team in advance of being referred to my Department for approval. As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for the school to which the Deputy refers. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at early architectural planning. A stage 2(a) submission, Developed Sketch Design, has recently been received in my Department. Officials from my Department are currently examining the Stage submission and will be in direct contact with the school authorities when this process is complete. The progression of all large scale building projects...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from my Department have recently received the Stage 3 submission (i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme) from the school's Design Team. It is intended that a review meeting will be organised between the Board of Management, its Design Team and the Department to assess the submission in due course. As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the Developing Areas...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The application for Planning Permission for the school referred to by the Deputy issued to the Local Authority on 25 June 2008. The Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) is due to be submitted to my Department on 18th August 2008. As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the Unit, their progression will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on reductions in class size over the life of the Government. The Programme contains a commitment to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4,000 and on that basis to make further progress on reducing class sizes. Budget 2008 provided my Department with...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to second level are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules relating to recognised pupil enrolment. In general a ratio of 18:1 is applied in respect of recognised pupils on established Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, repeat Leaving Certificate and Transition Year Programmes and a ratio of 16:1 is applied in respect...
- Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy may be aware that the Teaching Council has a statutory role in relation to the review of standards required for entry into the teaching profession, including the standards of knowledge, skill and competence required for the practice of teaching. The Council has begun its work in relation to this review and will produce a Strategy for initial teacher education. To this end, the...
- Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: All Programme for Government commitments to improve public services including those relating to capitation grants are contingent on the economic and budgetary environment and the need for prudent expenditure and fiscal management. The commitment in relation to doubling the capitation grant to primary schools can only be looked at and considered in the context of the overall economic and...
- Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second level system. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. My Department provides funding to secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to...
- Written Answers — Waste and Water Allowances: Waste and Water Allowances (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am very much aware of the cost pressures on schools, including those arising from waste charges and the changes that are happening in relation to water charges. Primary schools are now getting over â¬178 per pupil to meet their day to day running costs â an increase of nearly 70% on the 2002 rate of â¬105 and â¬15 more per child than they got last year. Post-primary schools have also...
- Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government commits my Department to establishing a Developing Areas Unit. Initial work on establishing and assigning dedicated staff to the Unit began in the latter part of 2007 and it is now fully operational. In terms of its work programme for 2008, the Developing Areas Unit is advancing the delivery of 26 new primary school buildings which are...
- Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Programme for Government sets out a number of measures in relation to school provision including improving arrangements for the planning for new schools. My colleague, the Minster for Environment, Heritage and Local Government Minister Gormley published draft planning guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas for public consultation in February which reinforces the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Professional and Technical staff in my Department continuously review and update the design of school buildings. A suite of technical guidance documents is available on my Department's website to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of projects and to encourage the design team to take a complete design team approach from project conception. My Department has...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has a strong record in developing low energy educational buildings. For the past eight years my Department has been using a process called the DART approach to develop sustainable and energy efficiency in educational buildings. This acronym focuses on four key areas, namely; Design, Awareness, Research, and Technology. The Department takes a holistic approach and has developed...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government commits my Department to promote and support the use of school facilities by community groups and other appropriate services and design new schools in order to facilitate multi-use. The primary responsibility of my Department in this area is the provision of school facilities for the effective delivery of the curriculum. In addition, school...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: This matter referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration by my Department.
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644, 711, 712 and 731 together. A devolved Minor Works Grant is paid to all fully recognised primary schools annually. In November 2006, the funding for the minor works grant was increased by 44% on the previous year. Over â¬27m was paid out to schools throughout the country in 2007 to enable thousands of small scale works to be completed without the need to...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: All buildings constructed on land in the ownership of the State remain in the ownership of the Minister or a Vocational Education Committee as appropriate.