Results 7,341-7,360 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Stage 3 documentation for the project referred to by the Deputy is currently being examined by my Department's Technical Staff. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under my Departments capital budget. This project has been assigned a band rating of 2.5...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Chief Executives of the State Examinations Commission and the National Council for Special Education are eligible for awards under the Civil Service Scheme of performance related awards for posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary and such awards are determined in accordance with the terms of that scheme. Approval for the introduction of a performance related award...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Board of Management / Manager of a school, following consultation between the principal and the staff, determines the duties which need to be performed by the holders of Posts of Responsibility for the effective internal management of the school and the distribution of these duties between the posts having regard to the school's own priorities. Among the duties which have been identified...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Where a site for a new school building is purchased by my Department the full cost of its construction is also provided. In these cases the building is owned by the Department and leased to an operator. In general, where a school is not owned by my Department, a local contribution of 10 per cent of the project cost is required for school building projects. This is capped at €63,500 for new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 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 the 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...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, my Department is focusing on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. Accordingly, there will not be a Summer Works Scheme for 2008....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is progressing the acquisition of a number of sites under the Fingal School Model Agreement. The Fingal School Model is an agreement reached with Fingal County Council and is a partnership approach to fast-track the delivery of schools and community facilities throughout the Fingal Area. The intention is that the agreed approach will match the rapid pace of housing development...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the process for the recognition of new schools, an applicant who has been refused recognition may appeal the decision to an Appeals Committee which is composed of a retired primary school principal, a retired post-primary school principal and a retired civil servant who formerly worked for my Department. Following the recent announcement in relation to the recognition of new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is given in the following tabular statement. Primary — List of Tenders Submitted County Roll No. School 1 Cavan 06998Q SN Tulach a Mhile, Corlough 2 Cork 18786R Sc Iosagain, Farranree 3 Donegal 19333I Dooish NS, Ballybofey 4 Dublin 16964F Scoil Mhuire Ogh 1, Loreto College, Crumlin Rd 5 Dublin 18324C Scoil Bhríde C, Palmerstown 6 Kerry 20196I...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has established a number of measures to support and advise schools where pupils may experience behavioural and emotional difficulties. All second level schools have been required to provide Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) as part of the junior cycle curriculum since September 2003. This course builds on SPHE in the Primary School Curriculum. SPHE, when considered...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 to 234, inclusive, and 245 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...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will probably be aware that under the Department's Area Development Plan for the N4/M4 corridor published by the Commission on School Accommodation, in May, 2005 provision of a new post primary school for Enfield is recommended post 2011.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers to is at early architectural planning. Officials from my Department have requested the Developed Sketch Design. On receipt of this, my Department will be in contact with the school authorities. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Written approval of the Stage 2(a) submission issued to the design team on the project referred to by the Deputy on 23rd April 2008. The Stage 2(b) submission is due to be submitted to my Department on 18th August 2008.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's 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 teachers,...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (21 May 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Initial work on establishing and assigning dedicated staff to a Developing Areas 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 30 new primary schools which are planned to be in place for September 2008. These projects are being delivered in areas which have been...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Developing Areas Unit of my Department is advancing the delivery of 30 new primary schools which are planned to be in place for September 2008. These projects are being delivered in areas which have been identified as areas of rapid population growth. To deliver its 2008 programme, the Developing Areas Unit has been working closely with relevant Local Authorities on the acquisition of...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. Enrolment decisions are the responsibility of the Board of Management of each individual school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment by schools. The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal...