Results 2,521-2,540 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 94 special needs assistants (whole-time equivalents) employed in schools in County Monaghan. Sixty four are employed in Primary and thirty are employed in Post Primary schools. There were ninety two special needs assistants employed in Primary and Post Primary schools during the 2007/2008 school year.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy has commenced. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project to construction at this time.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the design process. 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 on the capital...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. The staffing schedule allocates teachers within enrolment bands and the current bands are based...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However,...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including projects in County Clare, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The process of reviewing income limits for the ordinary and Special Rate of Maintenance Grants has been recently completed in my Department and will apply for the 2008/09 academic year. The current income limit for the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant has been sutstantially increased by 1.6% from â¬18,055 to â¬20,147.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The decision made on appeal in the case referred to by the Deputy is currently under review and it is anticipated a reply will issue to the student shortly.
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from my Department's Modernisation and Policy Unit are currently arranging a meeting with the authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy to discuss their accommodation needs.
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has recently received correspondence to correct the Terms of Consent of a letter that issued in 1983. The Department is currently considering same.
- Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am currently considering a number of issues relating to the patronage of second-level schools and the matter raised by the Deputy will be considered in that context.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However,...
- Written Answers — Bogus Universities: Bogus Universities (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Section 52 of the Universities Act 1997 prohibits the use of the term "University" where the organisation is engaged in the provision of education services unless the Minister for Education and Science consents to the use of the term. The existence of organisations of the type referred to by the Deputy is contrary to the interests of Ireland's higher education institutions, which have sought...
- Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not registered Educate Together as a patron of post-primary schools. As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently announced a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools and my Department is currently examining the same issue in the context of the second-level sector. The matter raised by the Deputy will be considered in that light.
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: In July this year, I published the report Investing Effectively in Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2008-2013, prepared by the Strategy Group appointed to advise on priorities for investment in ICT in Schools having regard to the critical success factors for successful integration of ICT into learning and teaching. It was published along with the ICT in Schools report on...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information relevant to the Deputy's question is being compiled and will be forwarded to her as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1749 and 1778 together. The information in relation to the staffing and associated costs in terms of salary, overtime and expenses for my Private and Constituency offices and those of the Minister of State at my Department are as follows: There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office, 1 of whom is a non-Civil Servant. The grades of these officers are: 2...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Sep 2008)
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 to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details...
- Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has a grant scheme in place for the provision of school books to eligible pupils. Schools that operate book rental arrangements get enhanced levels of grant. In total, over â¬6.3 million is allocated to schools under this grant scheme. The person referred to by the Deputy should contact the Principal of the school for assistance under its book rental scheme. My Department...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Sep 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no cutbacks in the provision of special needs assistants to support children with special needs. In fact, there are now 19,000 staff in our schools working solely with children with special needs. This includes over 10,000 SNAs â compared with just 300 in 1997. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is...