Results 4,681-4,700 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my Department's intention to provide the school to which the Deputy refers with a new building. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The new building for the school to which the Deputy refers is one of seven projects which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured under the public private partnership process. This Bundle is in the pre-procurement stage which involves the preparation of a detailed output specification and Public Sector Benchmark and the submission of an outline planning...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The amount spent on renting temporary accommodation for schools, including — but not limited to — prefabricated accommodation for each of the years 2006 to 2008 is as follows: 2006: €24.5m 2007: €35.5m 2008: €52.86m. The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Individual support services were established between 1999 and 2001 to support teachers following the implementation of changes to the syllabus in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Home Economics. In 2003 an additional support service was put in place to support teachers of Junior Cycle Science. The Physics and Chemistry support services were then integrated into Second Level Support Service....

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy is a recognised primary school and attracts funding in the same way as all recognised primary schools. The Deputy will be aware that schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants have been increased substantially in recent years. The primary school capitation grant has increased from €81.26 per pupil in 2000...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that all primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). All primary schools were given these additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model of learning support/resource teaching introduced in 2005....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April of last year from the school referred to by the Deputy. This was the first such application from the school. The school, which has a current enrolment of 49 pupils, is situated in a rural area. On foot of this application and information supplied by the school regarding its condition,...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile: Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Iarradh ar Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, a fheidhmíonn thar ceann mo Roinnse i dtaca le sealbhú suíomh i gcoitinne, suíomh a lorg don scoil atá i gceist. Tá suíomh oiriúnach sainaitheanta agus tá fáil an tsuímh sin dulta ar aghaidh go dtí ardchéim. De bharr na n-íogaireachtaí tráchtála atá ag baint leis níl fúm tuilleadh a rá maidir leis an suíomh féin. Machnófar cur...

Written Answers — Comhairle Múinteoireachta: Comhairle Múinteoireachta (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Mar is eol don Teachta, déanaim an 37 ball den Chomhairle Múinteoireachta a cheapadh i láthair na gcritéar a leagadh síos in Alt 8 d'Acht na Comhairle Múinteoireachta. I láthair Ailt 8 den Acht sin, ní mór a bheith sa Chomhairle 11 oide cláraithe atá fostaithe i mbunscoileanna aitheanta nó a bhfuil cáilithe chun teagasc iontu 11 oide cláraithe atá fostaithe in iarbhunscoileanna...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (25 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is checking relevant records and I will be in further contact with you in this regard.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: No pupil with a special educational need will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability. These special classes, which are to close, pre-date the 2005 general allocation model of allocating additional teacher...

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: If parents are being terrorised, it is on the basis of the misinformation disseminated. The first report stated that 900 pupils were involved. I want now to deal with the Deputy's question, which is important. One must first take into account the manner in which we have dealt down through the years with general mild learning disability. Special classes were established in 1989. In 2005,...

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There were five or fewer children in half of the classes.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The answer is that these children will be integrated into mainstream classes. Where there are two special classes on the same campus and the school can demonstrate a particular——

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——educational advantage in that regard I will consider amalgamating those classes.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Equally, I could read out to the Deputy a letter from a parent whose child was removed from a special class and mainstreamed and who is thankful to everybody for the great strides made by that child within mainstreaming.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Hayes must make up his mind what policy to pursue. Does he pursue a policy of integration which psychologically, socially and emotionally is better for the child?

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My apologies, it is mine. Deputy Hayes must make up his mind whether he agrees with the UN convention in terms of integrating children into mainstream classes and providing them with support——

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Hayes cannot have it both ways. He cannot continue to issue press releases that this will damage children.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is in the best interests of children to mainstream them and to give them the supports they need. That is what we are doing in mainstream classes in 3,000 schools.