Results 1,101-1,120 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Higher Education Grants Schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Each year, the scheme specifies a list of approved institutions for grants purposes. The approved institutions mainly comprise of public funded third level institutions. Private colleges are not approved for grants purposes. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that in relation to the individual referred to by the Deputy, his seconded service with the European Schools has been taken into account for pension purposes in accordance with the terms and conditions of his pension scheme. I also understand that his pensionable remuneration reflected the grade on which he was originally seconded to the European Schools. On the question of...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is committed to a policy of maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees. In pursuance of this policy and in compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, systems have been put in place to ensure that equipment and machinery are properly maintained and that adequate training is provided in the use of equipment/machinery where this...

Written Answers — National University of Ireland: National University of Ireland (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have responded to the letter in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is currently awaiting receipt of the Supplementary Tender Report from the Board of Management. When the Supplementary Tender Report has been received and provided there are no issues arising there from, the school will be authorised to proceed to the construction stage.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 686 to 691, inclusive, and 697 together. Officials in my Department met with the Trustees of the school to which the Deputies refer on 23 October and 21 December 2009. The Trustees expressed some concern about the future of the school and it is my understanding that they are considering a number of options in this regard. The Department understands that the...

Written Answers — Third Level Access Programmes: Third Level Access Programmes (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The objective of the Student Assistance Fund, is to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies....

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 693, 695, 696 and 715 together. As the Deputies are aware the Magdalen Laundries were privately owned and operated institutions which were not subject to State regulation or inspection and, as a consequence, are not scheduled institutions for the purposes of the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002. However, in recognition of the fact that some children...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As at 5 February 2010 Cork County Council had received a total of 2,140 grant applications for the academic year 2009/2010. This is an increase in applications of 32%. A decision has been reached on 1,107 applications. A total of 85 applications have yet to be assessed and these applications were received after the closing date. A significant number of outstanding grant applications (948...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application have been assessed in accordance with the published criteria for large scale capital projects and has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with assessed applications for major capital...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 2009, it was estimated that the budget for building projects in schools and higher education institutions had the capacity to sustain almost 5,000 direct jobs in the construction sector. This was based on an estimate by industry analysts that 9.3 is the average number of direct jobs created annually by €1 million of investment. The specific project to which the Deputy refers is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is at present carrying out a review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts, as outlined in my Department's Circular 07/02, are properly met....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published criteria for large scale capital projects and has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with assessed applications for major capital...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department entered into a contract with the main contractor to deliver a new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy. All certificates for payment which have been presented to my Department have been paid to the main contractor in accordance with the contract. No contractual relationship exists between my Department and any of the sub-contractors on this project. In this...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the Third Level Student Support Schemes, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy, on the age and gender of categories of pensioned primary, secondary, community and comprehensive teachers is set out in a Tabular Statement. The figures for second level teacher do no not include pensioned VEC teachers where the retirement awards are made by the relevant VEC. Number of pensioned female and male teachers by age category - February 2010....

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works are now available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. Details are attached for the particular schools to which the Deputy refers. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have no plans to instigate a pilot scheme along the lines suggested by the Deputy. There has been no change to the scheme under which posts of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to schools to enable them to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities. Schools, which have enrolled pupils who qualify for support under this scheme, will continue to be allocated SNA posts....