Results 2,381-2,400 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Gaeltacht Scholarship Programme: Gaeltacht Scholarship Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Both Programme for Government schemes to which the Deputy refers have been repeated this year and are running successfully. With regard to the summer courses in Irish for primary school children in designated disadvantaged schools, these are referred to as Campaí Samhraidh. Children's command of Irish is improved through participation in a range of activities, including music, arts and...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. This sets out the types of learning appropriate for students during the period...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department issued Circular 0138/2006 in December 2006 to primary schools requesting that they ensure that standardised testing is implemented on an annual basis for all pupils in English reading and Mathematics at the end of first class or the beginning of second class, and at the end of fourth class or the beginning of fifth class, beginning in the calendar year 2007. The introduction of...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 720 together. I can inform the Deputy that the number of psychologists as of January 2007 stood at 128, since that date an additional 15 individuals have been recruited to the service which when reduced by the effects of resignations/ retirements in the period results in a current staffing compliment of 137. Following a national recruitment competition...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 670, 671, 672 and 685 together. As the Deputy will be aware, a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special needs. The...

Written Answers — Access to Higher Education: Access to Higher Education (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Over the seven years of the National Development Plan (NDP) €13 billion will be invested under the Human Capital Priority to develop the capacity of the higher education sector to meet a number of key national objectives, including that of increasing the numbers of students participating in the sector. The focus will continue from the previous NDP on measures targeting the increased...

Written Answers — Access to Higher Education: Access to Higher Education (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yesterday, I launched the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008-2013. The National Access Plan will seek to encourage the broadening of entry routes to higher education institutions to greater reflect the fundamental changes being brought about through implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications. In 2007, in consultation with stakeholders, the National...

Written Answers — Higher Education Infrastructure: Higher Education Infrastructure (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, an envelope of close to €2 billion has been provided for investment in higher education infrastructure. At the end of the first year of the programme, implementation of this measure is progressing satisfactorily with 2007 funding used to deliver additional capacity for apprentices in 4 institutes of technology as well as equipping institutes to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The commitment under the Programme for Government to appoint a further student representative to the HEA can be accommodated under existing legislation and will be considered when future vacancies arise. The HEA engages extensively with student interests as an integral part of its work. The USI plays an active role in this process and continues to ably represent its constituency. The...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher Education Section has provided for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs. Central to this is the "Special Education Support Service" (SESS). The Teacher Education Section of my Department established the Special Education Support Service (SESS) in September 2003. The service consolidates co-ordinates,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme 2006, a grant of €484,000 was sanctioned for the school in question to enable the Board of Management to extend and refurbish their school. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fund-raising needs. Rather the terms of the Scheme require the schools to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy indicates that the pupil enrolment figures on 30th September for the past three years and mainstream class teachers allocated are as follows: Year No. 2004 167 Staffing 2005/06 Principal + 5 Mainstream Class Teachers + 2 additional mainstream posts 2005 148 Staffing 2006/07 Principal + 5...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A total of 91 officers have been assigned to posts in my Department that have relocated under the programme of decentralisation. Of this number 16 officers had been assigned to the decentralised posts with which they relocated for a period of greater than 2 years prior to the relocation of the post. Seventy five (75) of the 91 officers transferred from other civil service posts in order to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are 25 specialist posts to be included in the decentralisation of my Department. None of these posts have been relocated to date. Nine (9) of the officers assigned to these posts at present will decentralise with their posts. Approximately 262 general administration posts at executive officer and higher are included in the decentralisation of my Department. Seventy nine (79) of these...

Written Answers — School Places: School Places (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes applications for the establishment of special classes. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) forms a mandatory part of curriculum provision in primary schools and in junior cycle. The overall aim is to help develop students' confidence and self esteem, and promote the skills for living, for responsible decision making, and for mental, physical and emotional health and well-being. The junior cycle syllabus for SPHE includes a specific...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is aware of the case referred to by the Deputy, where a student is in receipt of a scholarship and has applied for a maintenance grant. This matter is currently under active consideration by my Department. The student will be advised directly of the outcome of these considerations as soon as the matter concludes.

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: At the beginning of 1965 new rules entitled "Rules for National Schools under the Department of Education" were introduced by the Minister for Education with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. This version of the Rules for National Schools has subsequently been updated, amended and supplemented by circular letters. The Rules for National Schools, together with Department Circulars...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the general allocation model was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs. The review is currently underway and is expected to be completed early in the next school year. The issue of allocation...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The total number of administrative principal posts at primary level in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 school years were 981 and 1,043 respectively. The post of administrative deputy principal was introduced for the first time at primary level in the 2006/07 year and there were 23 appointments in that year. Data in respect of the current school year is currently being compiled by my Department and...