Results 781-800 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (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 address details of the case referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The person in question retains no entitlement to an occupational pension in respect of his service as a secondary school teacher. The person left teaching at the end of July 1976 before reaching pension age. Subsequent to his leaving, preservation of pension benefits was introduced for teachers. Under this provision a person leaving service on or after 30 June 1977 but before pension age,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: A significant number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act have already been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. Specifically, the following sections have been commenced - 1, 2, 14(1)(a),...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The arrangements for vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff are set out in Department Circular 0094/2006 which issued to all schools in June 2006. The Circular is available on my Department's website. 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Students currently in receipt of the BTEA or VTOS allowances and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the relevant grant schemes. Students progressing to a new course with effect from 2010/11 will no longer be eligible for student maintenance grants but can...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains information relating to class size in primary schools for the school years 2006/07 to 2008/09. 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 — 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 — 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. However, the Deputy will be aware that on 16 February 2010 I announced projects that will progress this year. Unfortunately, it was not possible to include the School to which he refers in this...

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. However, the Deputy will be aware that on 16 February 2010 I announced a number of major school building projects that will progress this year. Unfortunately, it was not possible to include the...

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 proposed project for the school to which the Deputy refers. However, the progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in question, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The overall policy goal of my Department is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population and competing pressure on the capital budget available to my Department, it is necessary to make use of temporary accommodation in order to meet the accommodation needs of schools. During 2009, 222 schools have...

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. However, the Deputy will be aware that all applications for Capital Funding, their address and assigned band rating are listed on my Department's website. The progression of all large scale building...

Written Answers — Home Tuition Scheme: Home Tuition Scheme (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement. Home tuition grants are paid to the parents, who in turn make payment to the home tuition provider....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015. Given the increase in the birth rate in recent years the initial focus of this analysis is on primary school accommodation requirements. This...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Student Support Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. In light of the commitment to put the grants on a statutory footing, I am anxious to provide a statutory basis for all student grants,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 744 to 748, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications under the Summer Works Scheme for 2010 are currently being assessed in my Department. Following the assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme. In keeping with the timetable published with the governing Circular letter, I expect to...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications under the Summer Works Scheme for 2010 are currently being assessed in my Department. Following the assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme. In keeping with the timetable published with the governing Circular letter, I expect to...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The sequence for projects which have been approved to progress after the completion of the design stage, is the tender stage followed by the construction stage. 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.