Results 5,781-5,800 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate this afternoon on the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. At the outset, I emphasise the Government's abhorrence at what was allowed to happen to children in these institutions. No one could be unmoved by the horror of what occurred. For years the story of those who suffered in the residential institutions remained...

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Are they mild learning disabilities?

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Then perhaps they should be reclassified.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Senator's tone is inappropriate to this debate.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: She will not get any credit from the people for her tone.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is a disgrace in this House.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I ask Senator Healy Eames to control herself.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The victims demand that we take a proper tone in this debate.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Do not take that tone.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I ask the Senator to maintain a proper tone concerning what is a very difficult situation for all of us.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the terms of the maintenance grant schemes, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment. The decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC as appropriate. These bodies do not collect data...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The correspondence submitted by the school referred to the Deputy in support of its appeal is currently being considered by my Department. This process is well advanced and it is expected that a decision will be conveyed to the school shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is on-going liaison between my Department and local authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any major proposed developments and their possible implications for school provision. My Department has made submissions to the Local Area Plan for the area in question, in which the land requirements for additional primary and post-primary provision were outlined, based on...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am committed to providing information in relation to the allocation of teachers to schools and as a new feature on my Department's website. The process has begun with the provision earlier this year of initial information on the allocation of mainstream classroom teachers to primary schools under the revised schedule for 2009/10. In terms of the position at individual primary school...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Commission on School Accommodation published two reports in September 2001; namely the Amalgamation of First Level Schools and Amalgamation of Second Level Schools. These reports present a framework of key issues and recommends detailed models for the amalgamation process together with other recommendations on dealing with amalgamations in the future. The recommendations in the...

Written Answers — Primary School Ownership: Primary School Ownership (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware there are in excess of 3,200 primary schools in the country, most of which are not owned by the State but rather are owned by diocesan trustees of various religions or by religious orders, including the religious orders referred to by the Deputy. These schools are privately owned and as such the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in a...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Notification of Intention to apply for recognition of a new primary school in the Athy area has been received from the Patron Body for Educate Together. I have recently announced a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools under the Commission on School Accommodation. It is expected that the review of procedures for recognising primary schools will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position is that my Department's policy in relation to the retention of pupils in primary schools is set out in Primary Circular 32/03 which issued to all primary schools in December 2003. The primary school curriculum is designed as an eight year course, including a two year infant cycle followed by six years in standards from first to sixth, with children progressing to the next...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In general where a school has demonstrated a need for the provision of additional or replacement prefabricated accommodation grant-aid is provided by my Department on a devolved basis, as in the case of the school referred to by the Deputy. I understand that where planning permission for prefabricated units is required an initial five year period of approval is generally granted by the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is the candidate's nationality or his/her immigration status in the State that determines whether or not he/she meets the nationality requirement outlined in the student grant schemes. Possession of a 'stamp 4' does not automatically satisfy the nationality requirement of the grant schemes. My Department understands a 'stamp 4' can be awarded to categories of applicants other than...