Results 4,141-4,160 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 400 together. SPHE was introduced into all schools, at Junior Cycle level, on a phased basis from September 2000 and has been a part of the Junior Cycle Curriculum since 2003. It builds on the various Life Skills, Health Education and Pastoral Care programmes already on offer in many Post Primary schools. The aims of the SPHE are to enable the...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Substance Misuse Prevention Programme (Walk Tall) Support Service is available to all primary and special schools in all Local Drugs Task Force Areas and has also been offered to DEIS schools. The role of this Support Service is to support teachers in these schools to implement the Walk Tall Programme in the context of the SPHE curriculum. Support is also offered to these schools to...

Written Answers — Language Schools: Language Schools (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: At present, the English language sector is regulated on a voluntary basis by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS), a company limited by guarantee which operates under the aegis of my Department. It provides a voluntary quality assurance and inspection scheme for private sector English language schools. ACELS also approves teacher training qualifications for the EFL...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The supervision and substitution scheme is available to all primary and second level schools funded by my Department. Permanent, temporary and part-time teachers employed in the school may volunteer at the commencement of the school year for supervision and substitution duties over the course of the year. Wholetime volunteer teachers are required to contract to deliver a minimum of 37 hours...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's office accommodation is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for which the Department does not pay rent or lease. The following lists give the location of these offices. I understand that the Deputy has been provided with information regarding all properties leased by the OPW. This information includes property leased by the OPW for my Department. List of...

Written Answers — Whole School Evaluations: Whole School Evaluations (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Whole-school evaluation (WSE) is a model of external evaluation for primary and post-primary schools that was introduced during the school year 2003/2004. Whole-school evaluation is designed to encourage a culture of improvement and an emphasis of the quality of provision in schools. It does so by providing an external perspective on the quality of the key aspects of the school's work...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 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 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...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. It is a matter for the school to employ teachers up to the limit of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect, the education sector, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (27 Jan 2009)

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 — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Programme for Government commits the provision of a dedicated fund of at least €100 million for investment in school sports facilities over five years from within the NDP allocation for school buildings. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to promoting exercise for our children and young people– both in their community and at school. Over €2.6 billion has been...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second-level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered in the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation...

Written Answers — Offshore Islands: Offshore Islands (27 Jan 2009)

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 around 270 pupils. There are 4 post-primary schools and one unit attached to a mainland school on the offshore islands, with an...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (27 Jan 2009)

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...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An arrangement applies for teachers who become members of the Oireachtas with regard to the retention of their teaching posts. The arrangement, is that a replacement teacher is employed (in a temporary or Regular Part-Time capacity) in his/her school for the duration of the absence. The member of the Oireachtas retains his/her full salary and allowances and the cost of the replacement...

Written Answers — Coláistí Samhraidh: Coláistí Samhraidh (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Aithním an ról tábhachtach atá ag na coláistí samhraidh Gaeltachta i saol na Gaeilge agus molaim obair na gcoláistí as ucht líofacht a chothú i measc na mac léinn a dhéanann freastal orthu. Is ábhar dóchais é go leanann líon suntasach mac léinn orthu ag freastal ar na coláistí seo sa Ghaeltacht. Aithním chomh maith go mbíonn tionchar nach beag ag na coláistí ar...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1376, 1382, 1496 and 1507 together. The project to which the Deputies refer is at an early stage of architectural planning. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department will review the application for emergency funding from this school. The school authorities will be notified as soon as a decision is reached.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 2009)

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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction 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...