Results 6,961-6,980 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed Post Primary school for Gorey will be delivered by way of a Public Private Partnership and the school will cater for up to 1,000 pupils. I intend to announce PPP bundles during the year and the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in this context. The issue of patronage for the proposed post-primary school will be decided in due course.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is no record in my Department of an application for temporary accommodation from the school in question. Should an application be received it will be assessed and the school authorities notified of the outcome without delay.

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Schools Public Private Partnership Programme of 4 primary and 23 post primary schools was announced in September 2005. These projects are now progressing through procurement with the 1st Bundle of 4 post primary schools likely to commence construction during 2008. The 2nd Bundle of 6 schools which includes Gaelscoil Bheanntrai, a primary school, was advertised in the European Journal...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The two Devolved Schemes, the Small Schools Scheme and the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, were originally introduced on a pilot basis for 38 schools in 2003. Due to the positive feedback from schools, they were extended to cover 699 more schools between the years of 2004 and 2007. The purpose of these devolved schemes are to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It would not be appropriate in any circumstances to apply to special needs assistants (SNA) the terms and conditions of employment appropriate to teachers. Matters relating to the terms and conditions of SNAs are the subject of collective agreements specific to SNAs reached with the appropriate recognised trade unions and school management representative bodies. No such agreement is in place...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (17 Jun 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 on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is undertaking a Value for Money Review of the ICT Support Services for Schools, which includes the work of the ICT Advisory Service. This review is currently being finalised and no posts are being filled pending the outcome of the evaluation.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Small Business Forum Report placed a particular importance on this topic and recommended that the Government should formally adopt a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement focused on optimising the number of start-up businesses, and in particular, on maximising the number of start-ups aspiring to, and achieving high growth. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: On the 21st June 2005 the Government decided that Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) should be introduced across all Government Departments and Offices. RIAs must be conducted on: 1. all proposals for primary legislation involving changes to the regulatory framework (subject to some exceptions) 2. significant Statutory Instruments 3. proposals for EU Directives and significant EU regulations...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 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 on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently compiling a database on the schools that are using temporary rented accommodation. Approximately 900 schools were contacted by my Department and asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the stock of temporary accommodation in their schools. Over 800 schools from all counties returned the questionnaire and confirmed that they are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following the recent Ministerial change at the Department of Education and Science, the Special Adviser and Press Officer to Minister Mary Hanafin, TD, moved with her to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I would like to assure the Deputy that officials from my Department will be in touch with the school shortly regarding payment of the start-up grant to this school.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Programme for Government committed 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 addition, my Department availed of this opportunity to re-organise its broader Planning and Building Unit functions to best meet current demands. Applications...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of therapy services is a matter for the Health Services Executive (HSE) 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 Accommodation: School Accommodation (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. In general the vast majority of prefabricated accommodation in schools is single storey. However, in certain circumstances, such as in the case where the site occupied by the school is of restricted size, it may be preferable to provide a two storey unit.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of this Government's commitment to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, 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 teachers, special needs...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for an extension project. The development of a building project for the school is at an early stage, and requires a technical visit to progress matters. As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for capital funding are prioritised and advanced incrementally by my Department. This applies to the...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications have been received from 3 Institutes of Technology for designation as universities. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular the existing roles of the Universities and Institutes of Technology which have distinctive missions from each other, provide different levels and types of academic programmes, fulfil...