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

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question Deputies opposite must answer is how they propose to get credit flowing to businesses and householders. We all know that banks have curtailed lending, mainly because banks are finding it hard to access funds.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Our banks should be extremely grateful for the resolve of the Irish people to intervene to save the economy and ensure a return to growth.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Their forbearance and the courageous actions of this Government is putting this country on the road to recovery. When this period of Irish history comes to be written, it will be recorded in favour of those courageous enough to do the right thing in the national interest.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Neither my Department nor the 8 Offices of my Department are currently leasing any properties to commercial businesses and, therefore, the provision of the information requested by the Deputy does not arise.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department does not provide direct funding to business or start-ups, rather it provides funding to the enterprise agencies. Assistance for small businesses and services in Ireland is delivered by a number of bodies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and Enterprise Ireland (EI). If the company in question is seeking to expand and requires the assistance of state...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. Work on the general scheme of the legislation to merge the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency is at an advanced stage. My Department is liaising closely with both bodies in relation to the preparation of the legislation. I expect to bring the general scheme of the Bill before Government for its approval in the coming...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government website for invitations to tender for Public Sector contracts is www.etenders.gov.ie. This is the official website for Public Service contracts and this site can be accessed to view all invitations to tender as well as contracts under consideration and contracts awarded. In line with Department of Finance guidelines all Public Service contracts over €50,000 are advertised...

Written Answers — Companies Registration Office: Companies Registration Office (25 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Companies Registration Office processed over 380,000 statutorily required documents in 2009 of which 13,320 were new company registrations. The customer service target deadlines of five, ten and fifteen working days for the three company incorporation schemes operated by the Office were consistently met and regularly exceeded during 2009. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department and the 8 Offices of my Department do not currently rent or lease any properties from property landlords. All the properties occupied by the Department and its Offices are provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) without any cost to the Department or the Offices concerned. In many of those cases, the properties are rented or leased by the OPW from property landlords and...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the context of the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement in 2008, it was agreed that the relevant parties would enter into discussions regarding the terms and conditions, including remuneration, of both school secretaries and caretakers. Following ratification of the Transitional Agreement by the Unions in November 2008, a forum was set up in December 2008 under whose auspices...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal appointments in all primary and post-primary schools and these continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion. Unlike other areas of the public service retirement...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The pension schemes of both organisations where the person was employed are covered by the Public Sector Transfer Network and I understand that the Department of Finance has confirmed that, subject to establishing the exact amount, the service may be transferred for superannuation purposes. It is a matter in the first instance for the organisations involve to finalise the transfer. Due to...

Written Answers — Mitchell Scholarships: Mitchell Scholarships (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The devolved scheme for the provision of additional classrooms allows those schools with an urgent and pressing need for additional accommodation which is likely to last for more than 3 years, and who are being given approval for grant aid, to avail of the option of using their grants either to purchase prefabs or to construct permanent classrooms for the same amount. Funding is approved on...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is open to any school needing extra classrooms to apply for devolved funding to meet their needs. Generally, where a need for extra accommodation has been demonstrated and that need is likely to be for three years or less, approval will be given to rent the accommodation. Where the need for the accommodation is likely to exceed three years in duration, the Department will devolve...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project for the school in question, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The renting of office property is the responsibility of the Property Management Services, Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The terms of the leases are a matter for the OPW.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the details sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to provide the information on the case as requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Rainwater harvesting systems were first introduced for major building projects in 2008. Since then all major building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so, can incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into their brief.