Results 941-960 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department grant-aids the provision of temporary accommodation in respect of schools requiring interim accommodation to cater for additional staffing allocations while awaiting the provision of permanent accommodation. The school to which the Deputy refers applied for the replacement of existing rented prefabs with new prefabs in April 2009....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for the provision of an ASD Unit for the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 1.2 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 242 together. I can confirm that an application under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been received from the School to which the Deputy refers. Following an 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....

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Renewed Programme for Government provides for funding to be made available to allow schools to provide grant assistance for books. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that €7.65m of additional grant support has been made available as a result of the Budget for 2010, which is in addition to the €7m that...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As previously indicated to the Deputy, in my reply to Parliamentary Question No.191 of 18 February 2010 my Department does not maintain a list of such agreements and as such, I am not in a position to confirm that there are not similar agreements in place. My Department approved by way of letter of 22 February 1991 the use of a classroom to be used by a Montessori School which operates in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Report of the Task Force on Active Citizenship in 2007 includes a recommendation on the development of a senior cycle programme on citizenship for schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been progressing the development of a new subject "Politics and Society", which is proposed as an optional examinable full subject in the Leaving Certificate. A draft syllabus...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised by my Department that a central list is not maintained of the agreements referred to by the Deputy. This reflects my Department's understanding that such practices do not generally occur on sites under my ownership. My Department is aware of a long standing agreement to allow a Montessori school occupy a portion of a school building in Dublin. It is my Department's intention to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is provided on a quarterly basis. Some 8,541 special needs assistants were employed in primary schools in March 2009. Some 8,392 special needs assistants were employed in primary schools in December 2009. In March 2009, some 2,012 special needs assistants were employed in all second level schools including VECs. Some 1,950 special needs assistants...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The current position with regard to the 78 projects I announced is as follows: 11 projects have been completed and handed over to the school authorities; 25 projects are under construction; 28 projects are at tender stage; and 14 projects are at pre-tender stage. I expect the 28 projects at tender stage to progress to construction in the first half of 2010. The 14 projects at pre-tender...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education has advised my Department that a response will issue to the Deputy within the coming week in relation to the matter raised by him.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: A reply has issued from my Department to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application to the Department for additional accommodation for September 2010. The application is under consideration by the Department and a decision will issue to the school in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The tender report has been received by my Department and is being examined. When the tender process is complete and assuming there are no issues arising the project will progress to construction. It is envisaged that the completion contractor will be on site before Easter.

Written Answers — Local Contributions: Local Contributions (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the general funding arrangements for school building projects, the amount of the local contribution for extensions or refurbishments is 10% of the total project cost with the contribution being capped at €31,500. The level of the local contribution for schools with disadvantaged status is 5% of the project cost subject to a maximum amount of €12,500. The local contribution for new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for an extension to the school referred to by the Deputy and it is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band 2.5 rating. The progression of all large...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of our corporate social responsibility, and mindful that maintaining the blood donor panel is a major challenge, my Department has for many years supported the efforts of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). The IBTS normally contacts my Department on an annual basis appealing for voluntary blood donations. The personnel section e-mails all staff setting out the proposed date...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: At post-primary level, it is a fundamental principle of the Free Second Level Education Scheme that no charge be made in respect of:- (a) instruction in any subject of my Department's Programme for Secondary Schools; (b) recreation or study facilities where all pupils are expected to avail themselves of them as part of the school programme. (c) any other activity in which all pupils are...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department at individual school level for any school year is the pupil enrolment at the previous 30 September. The enrolment is applied to a staffing schedule which issues annually from my Department. Administrative principal status in primary schools applies on the appointment of the 7th mainstream class teacher. Under the...

Written Answers — Primary Education: Primary Education (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issue to which the Deputy refers is currently being investigated and an official from my Department will be in touch with the school shortly.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (18 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: For the purposes of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, Universities are public service bodies. A public servant is defined in the Act as a person who is employed by, or holds any office or other position in, a public service body. Consequently, employees of Universities including the person referred to by the Deputy are comprehended by the Act....