Results 861-880 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important for me to set out the position with the school. It is a special school and it is supposed to be catering for mild general learning disability. There are now 89 pupils enrolled. When the NCSE undertook its review in the school, it discovered that 23 of the pupils did not have a mild general learning disability-----

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: -----that five of the pupils had ASD and seven of the pupils had a moderate general learning disability.

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Some of the other students did not have any assessed special educational need. The school has 89 pupils with a staffing of an administrative principal, 15 teachers, four teachers who provide special subject hours and 17 special needs assistants. In 2002-03, there were 122 pupils and the school had one teacher extra with the same number of SNAs. Even though there has been a drop in the...

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important I get the facts on the record.

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important that children are placed appropriately.

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The pupil-teacher ratio for children who have autism is 6:1.

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The pupil-teacher ratio for children who have moderate general learning disability is 8:1. The pupil-teacher ratio for children who have mild general learning disability is 11:1 and the Department accepts 9:1. I am equally concerned about those children. I am equally concerned that they get the proper supports in the proper environment and that all necessary support is in place for them....

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: -----and that is agreed. We have asked the school to engage with the NCSE. We are prepared to get NEPS to examine and categorise those children properly in order that they are provided with the proper and necessary supports they are due.

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government has been considering the report of the panel appointed to assess the statements of resources submitted by the 18 religious congregations that were party to the 2002 indemnity agreement, together with the offers of contributions from the congregations following the call for them to make further substantial contributions by way of reparation in view of the Ryan report. From the...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am very conscious of the recommendations made to me by the Deputy, but unfortunately the issue is still under consideration by the Government. I made it clear previously that we are duty bound to make the congregations aware of the Government's thinking and to communicate our decision to the survivors. We hope to have those meetings shortly. I will take cognisance of the recommendation...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: At the start of this process it was the view of all Members that the public should be the final arbiter with regard to the offers the congregations would make. In that regard, the Government will, having taken a decision and discussed it with both parties, allow the public to be the arbiter. It would be inappropriate for the Government to interfere with regard to making recommendations as...

Leaving Certificate Gaeilge. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The need to promote greater proficiency in spoken Irish has been identified in a number of research reports in recent years. My Department has therefore taken a number of initiatives to ensure that students develop greater fluency in oral Irish during the course of their primary and second level education. In order to motivate students to focus on spoken Irish, a more prominent role has...

Education Grades. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I recently asked my officials, in conjunction with the relevant State bodies, to examine available evidence in regard to the question of trend increases in grades awarded at second and third levels. Papers have been prepared for me in respect of the State examinations and the higher education sector. With regard to the State examinations, while there has been a significant increase in the...

Education Grades. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Analysis has shown that there was grade inflation in the leaving certificate at higher level but that it levelled off after the establishment of the State Examinations Commission in 2003. Since then the variation in grade inflation is not significant. This indicates clearly that the State Examinations Commission is functioning as it should and that there are effective controls in place for...

Education Grades. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have dealt with the leaving certificate. As I said, I am satisfied there are proper controls in terms of grading standards. In regard to third level, there is no denying that there has been grade inflation. Dr. Barrett has given exactly the same advice in this regard to the United States Administration. There has been a similar grade inflation in the United Kingdom and other...

School Management. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I previously indicated to the House, the commission on school accommodation is currently reviewing the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools. The term of office of the new schools advisory committee expired in August 2008 and on foot of the issues raised within its reports and in light of changing demographic trends, I announced a review of the committee's procedures....

School Management. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: First, I made the decision. I certainly consulted Mr. Murray, having received a recommendation from him with regard to this matter, and I thought the decision was appropriate given the circumstances pertaining to the seven schools. If the Deputy wishes, I can give him the circumstances pertaining to Galway.

School Management. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Doughiska is a new area of population built to the east of Galway city. As has been pointed out, a VEC application had merit and an application was made by Educate Together, which previously had received approval to start a school in the Galway area. However, it did not materialise because the patron body was unable to source a suitable site. In addition, we had regard to the area in...

School Management. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I accept that greater diversity has come in and there are areas in which such diversity must be and will be recognised. The case in question has attracted criticism from Educate Together for instance. However, that body was awarded the patronage of two schools out of seven. While Educate Together has been highly critical on this occasion, I refer back to 2008, when patronage was issued in...

School Management. (4 Mar 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Some time ago, I indicated that I intended this year to roll out at least two more pilot projects under the VEC. As the Deputy is aware, an interim measure has been put in place. As the Deputy also is aware, I am about to bring the education (patronage) Bill to the Dáil and hopefully it will become law before the end of the year. In the interim period, however, legal arrangements have...