Results 1,741-1,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position in relation to the eighteen religious congregations, that were party to the 2002 indemnity agreement, making further substantial contributions by way of reparation following publication of the Ryan Report is that while responses have been received from some congregations, a full set of responses from all the congregations is awaited. The Panel appointed by the Government to...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Normal reporting arrangements between the grant awarding authorities and my Department are on the basis of three financial recoupments per year, a survey in January each year on progress in processing grant applications and an annual statistical return at the end of each academic year. This year, given the numbers of grant applications and the capacity of awarding authorities to process...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that teacher allocations to schools typically increase or decrease depending on pupil enrolment. In the case of special classes for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) the normal pupil teacher ratio that applies is 11:1. My Department however permits schools to retain a teaching post where it has a minimum of 9 pupils in the class. This minimum was...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position remains as outlined in Parliamentary Question No. 230 on 12 November 2009. The proposals in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes are being considered as part of the estimates process for 2010. The decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. While I will have to await the outcome of these deliberative...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (24 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The total cost incurred by my Department in respect of translating state documents was approximately €156,000 in 2008 and €118,000 to date in 2009. While these figures include the cost of translating documents into languages other than Irish, the cost element in respect of non-Irish translations is not significant. In order to reduce printing and distribution costs my Department adopted a...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Promoting literacy and numeracy skills is already a core element of the ongoing work of schools. National assessments of achievement in reading literacy and mathematics are conducted at two points in primary education, second class and sixth class, at approximately five-year intervals. These assessments are conducted on behalf of my Department by the Educational Research Centre and the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project at the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The application was received in March 2000 and has been assigned a priority band rating of 2.1. The Deputy will be aware that I met with a deputation from the school in May of this year. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Nov 2009)

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 been...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for Major Capital funding for an extension including ancillary accommodation. 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...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that on Monday 16 November 2009 I announced grants for Information and Communications Technology equipment for schools. As a first step, €22 million in grants will issue to primary schools before the end of this year, and schools will be asked to give priority to ensuring that there is a teaching computer and digital projector in every classroom. The school in...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001 does not define either a voluntary organisation or a community organisation. It is a matter for each council to decide which persons are representative of such bodies, as set out in paragraph 26.1 of my Department's Circular Letter 58/2009 - Arrangements for the Appointment and Election of VEC Members. A copy of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The previously published public sector number for full-time teachers in primary schools was 29,720 in September, 2007 and 31,134 in September, 2008. The corresponding number for September, 2009 is 31,642 and is inclusive of part-time teachers in primary schools that have been put on the Department payroll with effect from 1 September, 2009.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There were 486,444 pupils in national schools (including special schools) at the end of September 2007 and 498,914 at the end of September 2008. Enrolment numbers for the current school year are being compiled by my Department at present.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to determine it will be necessary for the candidate referred to by the Deputy to contact her assessing authority directly to have her eligibility assessed. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, I am making available €22 million in ICT grants for primary schools this year. I already had €9 million in my capital allocation for ICT. I am adding €13 million from the school building programme allocation this year to give a total allocation of €22 million. This €13 million represents about 2% of the overall allocation for school buildings this year....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project at the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early 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 Properties: Departmental Properties (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that no decision has yet been made on the future use of the property in question. Any decision in the first instance will have to be taken in the context of considering its future educational use. Submissions should be made by any interested parties to the Site Acquisition and Property Management Section of my Department.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school project. The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 1 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that, in general, I am not in favour of schools availing of an internet service outside of the Schools Broadband Programme as under the Schools Programme, connectivity to the internet is routed through a National Broadband Network, which has been developed by HEAnet (the National Education and Research Network provider). HEAnet has established a Network Operations...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The tender report for the project to which the Deputy refers was recently received in my Department. The report is currently being assessed by the Profession and Technical staff of the Building Unit. Provided there are no issues arising therefrom the school will be authorised to proceed to the construction stage.