Results 1,381-1,400 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: At the outset,I wish to refute the Deputy's suggestion that the inadvertent non-attendance of my officials at the meeting in question was not taken seriously. The non-attendance of my official arose from a diary mix-up. Once aware of the error, the official concerned contacted the representative from the Justice for Magdalene group to explain the position and, if possible, to arrange...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that Fáilte Ireland is engaged in discussions with Institutes of Technology Ireland and the Higher Education Authority in relation to the future management and administration of the programmes in question and the levels of award to be made to participants. However, responsibility for the management of these programmes and related discussions is a matter for Fáilte Ireland and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2010)

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

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As announced in the Budget, a reduction of 5% is being applied to the rates of student grants and scholarships. The reduction will be implemented in respect of all existing and new grant-holders from January 2010. This reduction is in line with reductions in other income maintenance payments including those for the unemployed. Students currently in receipt of the BTEA or VTOS allowances and...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Jan 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 (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1035, 1036, and 1069 together. The total number of large scale building projects that reached practical completion in the primary school sector during the five year period 2005 to 2009 is 260. In 2009 a total of 20 new schools were completed and these provided 212 permanent mainstream classrooms. 6 large scale extension/refurbishment projects were completed...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Board: Residential Institutions Redress Board (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1038 and 1041 together. The present position is that I have received individual responses from the 18 religious congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, to the call for them to make further substantial contributions by way of reparation, following publication of the Ryan Report. I will be bringing details of the congregations' offers of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy has been supplied to my Department by the local authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. The attached table displays the number of new applications in respect of which processing had not commenced. It is not possible to establish the number of these unprocessed applications which will lead to awards. Local Authority New Applications...

Written Answers — Third Level Sector: Third Level Sector (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1044 together. The High Level Strategy Group under the Chairmanship of Dr Colin Hunt which I established in February 2009 to develop a new strategy for higher education has met on 9 occasions to date. More than 100 submission were received from the first round of public consultation which was completed over last Summer, and these are available on the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will recall that measures had to be taken in the Budget to safeguard the future payment of income supports in the welfare system by reducing the levels of payments. Similarly, the reductions in the rates of student grants were necessary to ensure that the system is not extended beyond what current resources will allow. The Millennium Partnership Fund, introduced by the Government...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The proposed building project will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme for 2010 and subsequent years. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The new post primary school project for Gorey, Co. Wexford is one of eight schools which I approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle is in the pre procurement stage. Detailed output specifications and Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) are being finalised and outline planning permission has been received in the case of seven of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I informed the Deputy on the 15th of December 2009 that I expected "up to 5 further projects will commence on site before the end of 2009". Two of the five projects commenced on site in late 2009. The remaining three projects experienced delays due to the adverse weather conditions over the Christmas period. However I am please to inform the Deputy that the remaining three projects...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy lists two patron bodies, who applied for and received provisional recognition for the schools as listed by the Deputy. The schools referred to are classified as having a multi-denominational ethos. The first body is a limited company, who follows the Steiner ethos of education and received provisional recognition for two schools under the New Schools Advisory Committee's...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have repeatedly stated my, and the Government's, commitment to supporting Protestant education while at the same time ensuring that funding arrangements for schools under Protestant management are in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Indeed, it is in order to deal with the concerns expressed by some members of the Protestant community of the effect of changes to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The average annual rental cost for a standard temporary classroom unit for 07/08 school year was €15,428. The average cost for the same unit in 08/09 was €15,125, a reduction of almost 2%. The cost per unit varies significantly depending on the location, size, type and age of each unit. Another factor which needs to be considered is that in 07/08 the VAT rate for rental of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that a review of the band rating was carried out of the school to which the Deputy refers. The project has been awarded a Band 1.1 priority rating. A letter advising the school issued on 18 December 2009 . However, the progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependant on the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jan 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...