Results 4,181-4,200 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——provided they are within 45 km of each other. When we were factoring in a loss of only 200 posts at second level, we took account of the fact that we would not be able to redeploy teachers in that sector. That is why I am anxious that we proceed with redeployment issues. We reckon there are approximately 200 teachers surplus within the second level system who are not being moved on...

School Patrons. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Given the current trend of an increasing student population and the need to ensure maximum benefit from the financial resources available to me, I have asked the Department to examine the broad issues relating to school recognition at second level. The application from Educate Together to be recognised as a patron body at second level will be looked at in that context. It currently provides...

School Patrons. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Educate Together is doing an outstanding job in the primary sector, the non-denominational side of it is covered. The second level sector is a different kettle of fish. The Deputy is looking for recognition as a patron body in an area that is already served by the VEC sector in a non-denominational way. There are serious issues that must be examined within the Department. I am anxious to...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On foot of advice received from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), work is now underway for reform of Junior and Senior Cycle mathematics which is designed to provide for the phased implementation of syllabus change in maths. The Project Maths initiative is designed to encourage better understanding of maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my Department's intention to provide the school to which the Deputy refers with a new building. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The new building for the school to which the Deputy refers is one of seven projects which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured under the public private partnership process. This Bundle is in the pre-procurement stage which involves the preparation of a detailed output specification and Public Sector Benchmark and the submission of an outline planning...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The amount spent on renting temporary accommodation for schools, including — but not limited to — prefabricated accommodation for each of the years 2006 to 2008 is as follows: 2006: €24.5m 2007: €35.5m 2008: €52.86m. The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Individual support services were established between 1999 and 2001 to support teachers following the implementation of changes to the syllabus in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Home Economics. In 2003 an additional support service was put in place to support teachers of Junior Cycle Science. The Physics and Chemistry support services were then integrated into Second Level Support Service....

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy is a recognised primary school and attracts funding in the same way as all recognised primary schools. The Deputy will be aware that schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants have been increased substantially in recent years. The primary school capitation grant has increased from €81.26 per pupil in 2000...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that all primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). All primary schools were given these additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model of learning support/resource teaching introduced in 2005....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April of last year from the school referred to by the Deputy. This was the first such application from the school. The school, which has a current enrolment of 49 pupils, is situated in a rural area. On foot of this application and information supplied by the school regarding its condition,...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile: Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Iarradh ar Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, a fheidhmíonn thar ceann mo Roinnse i dtaca le sealbhú suíomh i gcoitinne, suíomh a lorg don scoil atá i gceist. Tá suíomh oiriúnach sainaitheanta agus tá fáil an tsuímh sin dulta ar aghaidh go dtí ardchéim. De bharr na n-íogaireachtaí tráchtála atá ag baint leis níl fúm tuilleadh a rá maidir leis an suíomh féin. Machnófar cur...

Written Answers — Comhairle Múinteoireachta: Comhairle Múinteoireachta (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Mar is eol don Teachta, déanaim an 37 ball den Chomhairle Múinteoireachta a cheapadh i láthair na gcritéar a leagadh síos in Alt 8 d'Acht na Comhairle Múinteoireachta. I láthair Ailt 8 den Acht sin, ní mór a bheith sa Chomhairle 11 oide cláraithe atá fostaithe i mbunscoileanna aitheanta nó a bhfuil cáilithe chun teagasc iontu 11 oide cláraithe atá fostaithe in iarbhunscoileanna...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is checking relevant records and I will be in further contact with you in this regard.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department holds data on temporary accommodation on a county basis rather than on an individual area basis. I attach for the Deputy's information details held by this Department of the schools in Cork City and County renting prefabricated units in the attached tabular statement. The average annual rental cost per prefab unit in Cork City and County area is €14,022. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Currently in my Department's school building and modernisation programme, there are 74 projects at stage 3 (55 at primary and 19 at post primary level) which have been approved to proceed to tender and construction but are not yet on site. These projects include the 10 which I announced in January of this year and the 43 which I announced earlier this month. There are currently 28 projects...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. The information sought by the Deputy is given in the attached tabular statement. These details relate to all prefabricated units used by the schools for a variety of purposes in addition to housing mainstream classes such as use as resource rooms and for storage. The information was obtained following a survey of over 900 schools across...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local authority or VEC, as appropriate. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in exceptional circumstances. In order to establish the candidate's status as an independent mature student, documentary evidence is required as proof of a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 456, 459, 470, 486, 489, 502, 503 and 505 together. The Deputies will be aware that all primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). All primary schools were given these additional teaching resources under...