Results 6,761-6,780 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together. Due to demographic increases in the general population, my Department is planning for a minimum increase in primary school enrolments of some 58,000 pupils over the next five years. This increase will require the building of about 2,300 classrooms nationwide during this time. These extra classrooms will be provided through a combination of...

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I was asked whether the Department anticipated this and I am in the best possible position because I was previously the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with responsibility for housing, urban renewal and developing areas. During my time in that post I arranged full contact with the Department of Education and Science because local...

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I think it was actually 26 projects.

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There were about five questions there. When I came into the Department, I had to examine spending within the terms of the budget. I indicated clearly that, given the downturn in revenue, it would take me some time——

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——to examine what could and could not be achieved. I confirmed to Deputy Quinn this afternoon that I have made much progress regarding what has been spent and what we will be capable of in September. I must wait to see what the Government decision is on overall spending for the rest of 2008 before I can make a complete decision on what can and cannot go ahead. I have indicated this...

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Quinn was regarded as a prudent Minister for Finance. He always operated within the resources that were available to him. I would like to think I can be a similarly prudent Minister for Education and Science.

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will examine what is in my bursary before I dispense it properly. I am conscious of the commitments that were made and I want to meet them as best I can. I have indicated that I hope to make an announcement in early September to specify those projects which can proceed to construction. I will do that in early September. I understand that school authorities are waiting on projects which...

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I appreciate that. I cannot answer questions about specific schools.

School Accommodation. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: This year's massive allocation of €600 million for the school sector represents an increase of €44 million on the allocation for 2007. We will complete many more school extensions this year than we did over recent years. It will be a record high. We will be happy to——

Teachers' Remuneration. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and Science is aware of the issues relating to the pay adjustments which are due to certain part-time teachers under the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001. It has worked closely with school management bodies and teacher unions to ensure the legislation is implemented and applied to teachers fairly and consistently. The...

Teachers' Remuneration. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My first reaction was to ensure that those who are entitled to increased wages are paid those wages as soon as possible. As the Deputy is aware, a substantial process of negotiation and discussion took place before agreement was reached on the payments. It was agreed by all the stakeholders in the agreement that those who are on the direct payroll should be paid immediately. Unfortunately,...

Teachers' Remuneration. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not have information regarding the Deputy's final question about the cases before the rights commissioners. I will make sure that the Deputy is made aware of how many cases are in question. As he will know, an individual has the right to to go to the rights commissioner even though an agreement has been reached between the stakeholders. That has been adopted. Of the two cases that...

Teachers' Remuneration. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have asked the officials to try to piece this together but I understand it will be quite a substantial sum.

Local Authority Charges. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am very much aware of the cost pressures on schools, including those arising from the changes in water charges. Primary schools now get over €178 per pupil to meet their day-to-day running costs. This is an increase of nearly 70% on the 2002 rate of €105 and €15 more per child than they got last year. Post-primary schools have also seen improvements in funding and through a similar...

Local Authority Charges. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is difficult enough to run my own Department, not to mention trying to run the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Local Authority Charges. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will raise Deputy Brian Hayes's point on local authorities with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, to determine the exact differences that exist. Deputy Brian Hayes referred to increases and claimed the Government committed to addressing the issue of charges in the programme for Government. The programme states, "Examine the provision of waste...

Local Authority Charges. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The introduction of water meters is currently a matter between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the schools involved. I did not make a commitment but indicated quite strongly that I would determine the help I could give schools, primary schools in particular, in terms of capitation in line with the 2009 Estimates. We should improve the level of...

Local Authority Charges. (3 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: We provided for a 44% increase in capitation last year and, therefore, significant improvements have already been made. There is an action plan for the DEIS schools in disadvantaged areas and €19 million was allocated to meet their needs. Much work is being done and considerable funding is being invested in the system.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (2 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 — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (2 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Value for Money Review of the ICT Support Service, which addressed the work of the NCTE, the ICT Advisory Service and specific posts assigned to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, was undertaken by my Department. While concluding that the Service is generally effective and efficient, the Report recognises that each school must plan and execute its own policy for ICT...