Results 2,301-2,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (9 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I assume the Deputy is referring to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed by individual school authorities, but paid through my Department's centralised payroll. Included here for the Deputy's information are a copy of the sick leave and pension provisions and also a copy of a recent circular on holiday pay for Special Needs Assistants. All school employees paid via my Department's...
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (9 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department has been very aware of the issues raised in relation to the adjustments to pay due to certain part-time teachers under the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 and has worked closely with the school management bodies and teacher unions to ensure that the legislation is implemented and applied to teachers in a fair and...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Government has clearly signalled its commitment to education by providing more than â¬690 million more for education in this year's Estimates, with a total allocation of more than â¬9.3 billion for the education sector. This considerable investment has been used to continue to implement improvements at all levels of our education system from primary right through to postgraduate level....
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: All schools will reopen in September with no reduction in the teacher allocation already approved for the new academic year. We will continue to sustain and develop educational opportunities at all levels so education can continue to play its central role in the development of each individual and Ireland's economic and social well-being.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: We always do it that way.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy has never been in Government. One agrees these things with the Department of Finance every year.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Not at all.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Why can the Opposition spokesman not avert to the fact that I told him that I would make announcements in September?
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: That is what the Deputy is getting.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: That is exactly what I did.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I invite Deputy Hayes to join me.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Today.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: We will have a look at that too.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will know that they were all predicated on a growth rate of 4.5%.
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Work on a revised syllabus for Agricultural Science has largely been completed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). However, the assessment arrangements for the revised syllabus have not yet been finalised as they will have to be considered in the context of the assessment of other senior cycle science subjects, including the introduction of a second assessment component.
- Written Answers — Offshore Islands: Offshore Islands (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: In line with the Programme for Government, it is my Department's policy that, where possible, education should be provided on islands for both primary and post-primary pupils. In all, there are 13 primary schools on the offshore islands with a total enrolment of 270 pupils. There are 4 post-primary schools and one unit attached to a mainland school on the offshore islands, with an enrolment...
- Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides significant annual funding to support the development of teaching and research activities in our higher education sector. The purpose and function of funding support in this context is to develop both the teaching and research capability and capacity in the Higher Education System. My Department also provides annual funding to the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies...
- Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is providing broadband connectivity to recognised primary and post-primary schools under the Schools Broadband Access Programme. This programme is being undertaken in partnership with industry in the context of a Government â IBEC/TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) Agreement to provide local broadband connectivity to schools. The Programme has three elements â...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to major building projects in Co. Clare is given in the attached table. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including those in Co. Clare, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and...
- Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (10 Jul 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The schools to which the Deputy refers have agreed to amalgamate into a Community School catering for 1,000 pupils. Amalgamation is dependent on the availability of suitable accommodation and a decision has already been taken to provide a new school on a new site. The amalgamated school was one of 27 new schools announced in September, 2005 to be provided under my Department's Public Private...