Results 2,801-2,820 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As stated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 655 of 17 June, 2008, the development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. My Department was in contact with the School Authorities earlier this year informing them that it is not in a position to organise a technical inspection of the school at this time due to demands for higher priority projects. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project,...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are no specific proposals to centralise the payment of VEC salary and pensions. However, the Department is exploring the possibility of increasing the use of shared services across the Education sector in order to ensure value for money and efficiency in the delivery of services.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware that there are more females than males entering the teaching profession and believe that it is important to attract more men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in our schools. I believe that teaching is an attractive...

Written Answers — Primary Schools Funding: Primary Schools Funding (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issues referred to in the question from my Department's perspective are that of funding for schools to help deal with their day to day running costs. Firstly, I wish to state that my Department is aware of the funding pressures on schools. It is also clear that there is a need for further improvements on funding levels. However, this can only be achieved in a manner that is consistent...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The scheme of release time for principals enables teaching principals of primary schools to be released from their teaching duties for a specified number of days annually to undertake administrative leadership and management functions. The number of days release time allowed varies between 14 and 22 and is determined by the number of mainstream class teachers in the school. The recruitment...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The precise information which the Deputy has requested is not readily available. However, data in relation to the number of primary school administrative principals by county for the 2007/08 school year is as follows: Primary Administrative Principals by County County Non-Teaching Principals Carlow 11 Cavan 9 Clare 19 Cork City 46 Cork County 66 Donegal 31 Dublin South County 80...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of, and demand for primary teachers.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and a tender report has been received by my Department. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, 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 budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An interim telephone advisory service has been arranged to give schools and parents in Co. Mayo continuing contact with the Visiting Teacher who has worked with them to date in assisting their children to access the full range of educational opportunity. New referrals continue to be received and assessed in the normal way for attention by the Visiting Teacher service as soon as is...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of permanent teaching posts available in individual schools at any one time is determined in accordance with the agreed criteria relating to the application of the pupil teacher ratio. It is a matter for the individual school authority, as employer, to determine whether any particular post when vacated may be filled on a permanent basis. The number of wholetime teacher equivalents...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Data as requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table in respect of the school years 2006/07 and 2007/08. Data for the current school year 2008/2009 has not yet been compiled in my Department. The number of pupils benefiting from additional supports is not available. School Year 2006/2007 2007/2008 Teachers (permanent/temporary) 27,515 28,735 Pupils 471,519 486,444 Special...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Schools Public Private Partnership Programme of 4 primary and 23 post primary schools was announced in September 2005. These projects are now progressing through procurement with the 1st Bundle of 4 post primary schools likely to commence construction by the end of the year. Procurement of the 2nd Bundle of 6 schools (5 post-primary schools and 1 primary school) commenced in September 08....

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement to the University Sector. This funding includes a block grant to cover core teaching and research activities, grant in respect of undergraduate tuition fees and earmarked funding for specific purposes. There have been substantial improvements in the funding of the university sector in recent...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 361 together. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows. Since 1980 the HEA has commissioned surveys on participation rates on six-yearly intervals and the most recent survey was carried out in 2004. From 1980 to 2004 the participation rate grew from 20% to 55%, one of the highest increases among OECD countries. The very steady improvement...