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Estd. 2005

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Posts about Batt O'Keeffe

18 Oct 2008

Dempsey defends practicality of Metro North

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on buckplanning.blogspot.com

Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said that from next January substitution cover for uncertified sick leave in all schools, and for official school business in post-primary schools, was being suspended. He was asking schools, ... Continue reading »

Student registration will increase to €1500 from next September …

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

However, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has signalled this is only an interim measure, pending the likely return of some form of college fees. In a significant move yesterday, the Minister said he has now been mandated by the ... Continue reading »

23 Sep 2008

University heads want fees paid by student loans

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com/front

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS will lobby for the introduction of an Australian-style student loan system when they meet Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe tomorrow.... Continue reading »

22 Sep 2008

Batty Boy: Minister For Education A Doofus

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on thechancer.ie

MINISTER FOR Education Batt O’Keeffe has admitted his embarrassment in a growing controversy about the potential revenue from the return of third-level fees. Last weekend, the department released the results of a report prepared by a ... Continue reading »

Minister signals likelihood of cutbacks across education sector

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

THE PROSPECT of cutbacks in education appeared more likely last night after Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said he would be working to achieve a more cost-effective service.... Continue reading »

A cheap shot at architects

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

Madam, – Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe is interested in value for money (Education Today, September 16th). This is laudable.... Continue reading »

O'Keeffe embarrassed over fee revenue forecast out by €400m

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

MINISTER FOR Education Batt O'Keeffe has admitted his embarrassment in a growing controversy about the potential revenue from the return of third-level fees.... Continue reading »

17 Sep 2008

Davitt College hall gets green light

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on westernpeople.ie

30-year wait for a sports hall is finally coming to an end. According to Deputy Beverley Flynn, the news was announced by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe who met a delegation from the Castlebar secondary school in Galway yesterday.... Continue reading »

16 Sep 2008

Minister sanctions Davitt College sports hall

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on mayonews.ie

There was joy in Davitt College in Castlebar on Monday following the announcement that Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, had sanctioned funding for the school’s long-awaited sports hall.... Continue reading »

Third-level fees for wealthy would raise €500m, O'Keeffe report claims

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

THE RETURN of third-level fees appears more likely after a study commissioned by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said the move would generate more than €500 million a year.... Continue reading »

12 Sep 2008

Debate on third-level fees

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

Madam, – The suggestion by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe that college fees should be brought back because taxpayers should not “fund the people who could well afford to pay” is truly asinine (The Irish Times, September 10th).... Continue reading »

10 Sep 2008

O'Keeffe defends figures which show crowded classes

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

MINISTER FOR Education Batt O'Keeffe has moved to defend the Government's record on class sizes, despite new figures showing that the Republic has the second most overcrowded classrooms in the EU.... Continue reading »

04 Sep 2008

Ministers agree common approach to wearing of hijab

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

A COMMON approach to the issue of Muslim girls wearing the hijab in classrooms has been agreed by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe and Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan.... Continue reading »

31 Aug 2008

Kevin Rafter: Putting the rich in a class of their own

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on tribune.ie/section/news

Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe is about to kickstart an 18-month root and branch review of the third-level sector. Most attention will focus on the controversial option of reintroducing undergraduate fees. ... Continue reading »

30 Aug 2008

Farmweek Podcast – 29 August 2008

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on rte.ie/radio1/farmweek

Donna O’Sullivan hears of poor progress in this year' harvesting, genetically modified crops and foods and Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe journeys back to his roots in rural North Cork.... Continue reading »

29 Aug 2008

Debate on Third-Level Fees

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on neilward.ie

However, Batt O’Keeffe has now gone on the rampage and lined up alongside the Presidents of the Universities to call for a reintroduction of third-level fees. The irony of this partnership is that the two sides have very different aims ... Continue reading »

Permission granted for Kill Primary School

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on jameslawless.ie

Enquiries I made earlier in the Summer drew a positive response from the Mininster, Batt O’Keeffe TD, when he “confirmed that the design phase of the project is progressing well and is on target” and the permission granted is another ... Continue reading »

18 Aug 2008

Why I do what I do (part I) – Labour

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on neilward.ie

And for all the arguments I hear from the likes of Batt O’Keeffe at the moment, my personal experience will always underline my belief in the application of a principle of universailty to the area of education. I have similar beliefs in ... Continue reading »

17 Aug 2008

'Nuclear' fees bomb defused by fearful FF

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on tribune.ie/section/news

But the question still remains: what happened in the last month-and-a-half to prompt new education minister Batt O'Keeffe to tell The Irish Times that the return of third-level fees was no longer ruled out as the government seeks to ... Continue reading »

16 Aug 2008

Autism student a 'shining example'

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

SPECIAL NEEDS:A 17-YEAR-OLD student with autism who achieved extremely high marks in the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) was yesterday hailed by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe as a shining example of what can be achieved by ... Continue reading »

13 Aug 2008

Incomes of over €100000 would be target for fees

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

ONLY FAMILIES earning well in excess of €100000 a year would be required to pay third-level college fees in the event of their reintroduction, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe indicated yesterday.... Continue reading »

12 Aug 2008

How not to recruit home students . . .

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on ollscoil.blogspot.com

There is currently much discussion in the press about Batt O'Keeffe's announcement that the debate on fees will be reopened, as reported in the Irish Times. This is obviously a controversial topic which will spark heated debates. ... Continue reading »

I can see the ‘Fee-na Fail’ placards already. Sigh.

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on sineadkeogh.wordpress.com

In scenario A, maybe public outcry achieves its aim and Batt O’Keeffe gets back in his box. Sub-standard grants, sub-standard universities and sub-standard prospects after graduation remain unchanged. ... Continue reading »

Parties attack O'Keeffe's fees proposal

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

FIANNA FÁIL's Coalition partners and the Opposition parties have all come out strongly against Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe's proposal to reintroduce third-level fees for the better-off.... Continue reading »

11 Aug 2008

ICT School Investment

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on blog.edware.ie

As reported in the Irish Times the TUI has called on the government not to cut the ICT budget for schools set aside under the 2007-2013 NDP, Batt O’Keeffe, TD has so far not made a commitment to proceed with the investment. ... Continue reading »


Who is Batt O'Keeffe?

Party: Fianna Fáil

Constituency: Cork North-West

(Bartholomew) “Batt” O’Keeffe is a Teachta Dála for Cork North West and is currently the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.

Batt O’Keeffe was born in Cork in 1945. He was educated at St. Brendan’s College, Killarney, Co. Kerry and University College Cork where he received a Bachelor of Arts. O’Keeffe worked as a Lecturer in Cork Institute of Technology before becoming involved in politics. He also had a sporting career. O’Keeffe is the holder of 3 Munster Gaelic Athletic Association medals with Cork at Under 21, Junior and Senior level. He was also a Cork Intermediate Handball Champion. In 1985 he was elected to Cork County Council.

In the 1987 general election O’Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann, serving in the 25th Dáil. He lost his seat to Micheál Martin in the 1989 general election but he was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann where he was Spokesperson on Finance. In the 1992 general election O’Keeffe was re-elected to the Dáil and has been re-elected at each subsequent election. Between 1995 and 1997 O’Keeffe was Opposition Spokesperson on Transport & Communications. He has also served on a number of committees including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Public Accounts Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee. In Bertie Ahern’s Cabinet reshuffle of 2004 O’Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Environmental Protection.

In 2006 O’Keeffe was selected unopposed to contest the 2007 general election in the re-drawn Cork North West constituency along with Michael Moynihan and Donal Moynihan. O’Keeffe was successfully elected though his party colleague Donal Moynihan lost his seat.
In 2007 O’Keefe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal.

- Excerpt from Wikipedia page for Batt O’Keeffe

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