Results 3,621-3,640 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. 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, in light of...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 225 and 235 together. The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is not involved in the allocation of school places. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 29th September this year I announced details of 25 major school building projects which are to proceed to tender and construction. The school building projects which I announced will provide permanent primary school places for over 4,600 students in five new schools and 15 extended and modernised schools. A further 3,600 students at post-primary level will benefit from one new school and...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. When the country was able to afford it the Government reduced the basis on which primary teachers are allocated to schools from being based on an average number of pupils per teacher from 35...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Details relating to annual payments to the school referred to by the Deputy for the rental of temporary accommodation over the past 10 years are set out in the following tabular statement. The temporary accommodation is required on the site to accommodate increased enrolments in the school pending the completion of a major building project for the school. The progression of this project will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has approved a new 24 classroom school and ancillary accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. This project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process (detailed design). Progression of the project will be considered in the context of the Department's Multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that no anomaly exists. My Department sets out the criteria for allocating additional supports in schools which have enrolled children with special educational needs. The level of such support is determined by the assessed disability of the pupil(s) concerned in accordance with my Department's policy parameters. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A significant number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs 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 educational needs. Specifically, the following sections have been commenced — 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c),...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works. The level of facilities to be provided in schools will vary depending on the brief of accommodation needed for the school. The standard size of a classroom being delivered for primary schools, whether through the generic repeat design (GRD) concept or traditional design, at primary...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included the decision to discontinue the annual funding of €97,000 that my Department made available to the Centre for Talented Youth (CTYI) at Dublin City University. While it...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme is currently underway and it is expected to be completed during 2009. The final report, once approved, is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, submitted to the appropriate Oireachtas Select Committee and published on the Department's website. As the review...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In line with the requirements of Sustaining Progress, agreement has been reached between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council in relation to the standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and second terms for the school year. Once schools adhere to the agreed standardisation, they have local flexibility in determining how they make up the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy applied for works under the 2008 Summer Works Scheme. Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Strategy: Higher Education Strategy (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the process to develop a new national strategy for higher education. It is envisaged that the process will be led by a high level steering group, who will be able to provide a business, wider community and international perspective. Membership of the steering group is currently under consideration.

Written Answers — Higher Education Budgets: Higher Education Budgets (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Higher Education Authority has advised my Department that five of the universities have notified the Authority that their expenditure will be in excess of their 2008 budget. The universities concerned are University College Dublin, University College Cork, NUI Maynooth, Trinity College Dublin and University of Limerick. The HEA is in continuing correspondence with all the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Strategy: Higher Education Strategy (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The OECD 2004 Review of Higher Education in Ireland stated that the lack of a sufficient supply of doctoral students could seriously hinder Ireland's aim to create a research intensive higher education system and to stimulate much higher levels of industrial research and development. One of its recommendations in this area was that steps should be taken to double the numbers of postgraduate...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 174, 175 and 178 together. The information available to my Department in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy relates only to post primary schools. My Department publishes this information annually in 'List of Post Primary Schools'. I have requested my officials to forward the most recent copy of this publication, relating to the school year...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Statistics on primary schools are published annually by my Department on a county by county basis. The information is currently being collected from schools for the 2008/09 school year and this will be published when completed. My Department interacts with over 3,200 primary schools on many day to day issues including their staffing allocation and grant payments and it is not possible to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am checking what information can be provided in my Department without creating an undue administrative burden and will be forward such information directly to the Deputy.