Results 6,001-6,020 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is located in an area which is the subject of a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). The planning scheme for the SDZ, which is endorsed by An Bord Pleanála, requires that housing and supporting infrastructure, including schools, be provided in a phased manner. It is a condition of the SDZ that at completion of phase 2 (maximum of 1,800 housing units) a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Based on current demographic trends my Department anticipates that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in the area concerned in the medium term and has been in contact with the relevant local authority regarding a potential site for future educational provision in the area. My Department has inspected the various site options identified by the local authority and is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Home tuition was not sanctioned for the child in question as the application did not meet the criteria under the terms of the home tuition scheme. Additional information submitted in support of the application is under consideration by officials in my Department. A decision will be conveyed to the parent as soon as this process is completed.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have consistently said that 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 Education, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 521 together. As the Deputies will be aware, I am currently finalising a review of policy options relating to the introduction of a form of student contribution. There are many complex and competing considerations including costs, affordability and value for money for the taxpayer which will be taken into account by the Government in considering...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently considering an application for additional teaching provision to support a number of traveller children in the school referred to by the Deputy. The application will be examined as quickly as possible and the school authority will be advised of the outcome once the examination has been completed.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, Part 5 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 sets out the Council's investigating and disciplinary functions. The Council or any person may apply to the Investigating Committee for an inquiry into the fitness to teach of a registered teacher where; The teacher has failed to comply with or has contravened the Teaching Council Act, 2001, the Education Act, 1998, the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 to 490, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project for the school to which he refers was included in my announcement in February 2009 of 43 projects to proceed to tender and construction in 2009. The Design Team is currently finalising the tender documentation. A contract notice seeking expressions of interest from suitably...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is awaiting a response from the City and County Managers Association in relation to their agreement on the terms of a draft memorandum of understanding on the site acquisition process. My Department has and will continue to consult with the Chief State Solicitors Office, given their role as the Department's property advisers, before submitting recommendations to me on the matter.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The inspection of the school referred to by the Deputy is not yet completed. My Department will be extending the provisional recognition of the school for a further school year and a detailed letter has issued to the school authorities in this regard.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 501 together. The building project for the school to which the Deputies refer is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. As well as significant refurbishment of the existing school building, the additional accommodation to be provided is as follows: two classrooms with storage; GP room; library/resource room with storage; remedial room; and...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I indicated to the House on the 12 June 2009, I have asked my Department to go through individual school files and compile the ownership information for all schools into an accessible format for presentation. I am advised that it will take some time to collate the information and complete this exercise. As soon as this has been completed, I will arrange to forward the information to the...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The management structure for the proposed new school to which the Deputy refers is under consideration in my Department and a decision will be taken in this matter in due course.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including the publication of the timetable for the oral, practical and written examinations. The leaving certificate examination timetable is developed and finalised each year following extensive consultation with all of the education partners involved, including...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 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, SNAs, to primary and post primary schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has considered the correspondence submitted by the school in question appealing the decision to suppress a class for pupils with a mild general learning disability, MGLD, in the school. My Department recently advised the school that the decision to suppress the class remains. All children with MGLD who are in the class being suppressed will be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: At 19 June 2009 a total of 289 school principals (230 primary school and 59 secondary, community and comprehensive schools) had formally advised my Department of their retirement during 2009. The corresponding total in the case of deputy principals is 205 of which 166 are primary and 39 are secondary, community and comprehensive. The figures for post-primary teachers do not include VEC...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received applications from ten second level schools for approval to participate for the first time in the LCVP programme from the commencement of the 2009/10 school year. In response to the applications, a number of the schools involved received school visits from members of the LCVP support services to discuss their proposed participation in the programme. My Department...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Jun 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, SNAs, to primary and post primary schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The closing date for the receipt of applications for the incentivised scheme of early retirement, announced in the Budget Statement of 7 April 2009, is 1 September 2009. Information on the number of applications received under the scheme will be available shortly after that date.