Results 6,741-6,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 169 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of applications for large scale capital funding from the schools to which he refers. The projects have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the proposed works will be considered on an ongoing basis...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 2007 the school in question received approval to build additional classrooms under the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS). The purpose of the PAS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake building works which will address the school's long term accommodation needs. Under the terms of the Scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality and extent of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 178, inclusive, together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of applications for large scale capital funding from the schools to which he refers. The projects have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the proposed works will be considered on an...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of therapy services is a matter for the Health Services Executive and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes. The Deputy may wish to raise the matter with my colleague the Minister for Health and Children or directly with the Health Service Executive.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 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 4000 and on that basis to make further progress on reducing class sizes. Budget 2008 provided my Department with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that written approval of the Stage 2(a) submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) issued to the design team on the project in question on 23rd April 2008. The Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) is due to be submitted to my Department on 18th August 2008. The application for Planning Permission issued to the Local Authority on 25 June 2008. The progression of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183 and 185 together. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in any given area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. This approach ensures that the use of existing accommodation is maximised and that the development and support of one school over others does not occur. As part of the Programme for...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 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 Kilcock. 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. 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 Celbridge and Maynooth. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 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 Naas. 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the construction phase of the project to deliver new classroom accommodation for the school in question is ongoing and that, in fact, the works commenced as far back as 31 March 2008. Initially, 10 new classrooms will be delivered in August 2008, ready for the 2008/2009 school year. The second phase will see the construction of a further 16-classroom...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statement. The following tabular statement gives details of the number of staff at the Department of Education & Science that have received or are in receipt of financial support for Post Graduate Educational courses from 2004 to 2008. 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 26 21 25 27 21

Schools ICT Strategy. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The change to which the Deputy refers arises from a value for money review of the ICT support service undertaken by my Department, which will shortly be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The review concluded that while the service is generally effective and efficient, the resources currently utilised by the operation of the service from the regional education centres would be better...

Schools ICT Strategy. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision was taken by my predecessor.

Schools ICT Strategy. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I must add to my previous reply by stating that even though the decision was taken by my predecessor, having examined the files I would have come to the same conclusion.

Schools ICT Strategy. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is not the way I would have preferred it to be done. I accept that. When the decision was taken, a strategy report was available and an evaluation was carried out by the inspectorate. To give the background to the notification process, on Friday, 20 June, the director of the NCTE first attempted to contact the chair of the Association of Teachers' Education Centres in Ireland, ATECI, to...

Schools ICT Strategy. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under no circumstances am I aware that any doctoring of an independent report took place. I am quite satisfied it did not. It certainly has never come to my attention that such a thing would happen and I do not believe it would happen within the Department. We must bear in mind the evaluation that was carried out by the inspectorate. While it was accepted the education centres were...

Schools ICT Strategy. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes, I intend to publish the evaluation and the strategy report together. I hope to be in a position to do that next week.