Results 821-840 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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 the full details sought by the Deputy. However, applications from schools for additional accommodation are currently being assessed. Schools will be notified of the outcome of their applications in due course. In addition, all applications received under the Summer...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is very supportive of the SNA scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream education and providing support to pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the 2007/2012 Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise that broad agreement has been reached on the core conditions to enable...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have not met with the Northern Ireland Minister for Employment and Learning, in the period since 16 February, 2010 but I have received a letter from Minister Empey dated 16 March 2010 which refers to a meeting between the Irish Business and Employers Federation, the Confederation of British Industry (IBEC-CBI) Joint Business Council and Universities Ireland which took place on 16 February...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My officials would be happy to examine any proposals a business may wish to submit to the Department for consideration but it should be borne in mind that the procurement of goods and services by the Department must comply with the appropriate public procurement procedures.

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 the full details sought 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 school building and modernisation...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (23 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal climate, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010 and to cease from 2011. While the overall reduction in...

Written Answers — Departmental Committees: Departmental Committees (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 25: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the process of public consultation that will be undertaken by the 2020 committee; when he expects the committee to complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11865/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Committees: Departmental Committees (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 58: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the timescale that he has given the recently established 2020 committee to complete its work to draw up a long term strategy for the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/10]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the incident to which he refers only took place at the weekend. In the circumstances, my Department, with the assistance of the VEC, is currently concentrating efforts on providing alternative accommodation for the school to ensure that it can re-commence operation as quickly as possible. In this regard, I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that the VEC...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 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, as the Deputy will be aware, the progression of all large scale building projects, including the project for the school in question, from initial design stage through to construction will...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (11 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 and...

Written Answers — School Enrolment: School Enrolment (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age and the Rules for National Schools provide that a child must be at least 4 years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a National School. The primary school curriculum is designed as an eight year course, including a two year infant cycle followed by six years in standards from first to sixth, with children...

Written Answers — School Property: School Property (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy may be aware that the vast majority of schools are privately owned and publicly-funded institutions with the interests of the State in the buildings constructed on these sites protected by way of long term leases. Generally, on foot of a request from the property owner and where my Department has determined that part of the school property is not required for educational purposes,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 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 on the school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project at the school 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 is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The proposed building...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (11 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 details of the case referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (11 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 215 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to the recommendations contained in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes to reduce, from 33 to 22, the number of Vocational Education Committees. In September when I spoke at the annual conference of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) I...