Results 6,141-6,160 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has considered the correspondence submitted by the schools in question appealing the decision to suppress a class for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) in each school. My Department recently advised both schools that the decision to suppress the classes remains. The material submitted by the schools did not include any...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has been working with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Pobal on the re-orientation of the Millennium Partnership Fund, which was recommended by an independent evaluation commissioned by the HEA. The review recommended a more targeted approach, focusing the fund on a rigorously selected sample of groups with a strategic focus and good linkages with other stakeholders at...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education has been requested by my Department to arrange for its Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) to review special needs assistant (SNA) allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. The review is currently under way and it is intended...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department has received an application for major capital funding for the provision of a new school to cater for the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 2.2 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Due to my diary commitments, it is not possible at this point in time for me to arrange...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the relevant local authority or Vocational Education Committee. The applicant referred to by the Deputy should seek any additional information or clarification required directly from the assessing authority to which the application for a grant was made. These bodies do not refer individual...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position relating to the matter of assistive technology grants for the school in question is as I outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 665 on 9 June last. My Department has not received a recommendation for laptops for pupils with special educational needs attending the school in question. I have referred the matter to the National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that on 12 February, 2009, I announced details of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project for the school in question was included in this announcement. The project is currently at the earliest stage of architectural planning and is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team.

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 290 together. On Thursday 4th June 2009, the Taoiseach, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues, met with representatives of the Religious Congregations to begin the process of addressing with them the issues arising from the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach conveyed the view of the...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On Wednesday 3rd June the Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues met with survivors groups to begin the process of discussion of the issues arising from the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach reiterated the apology issued to survivors by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, TD, and conveyed directly and personally a sincere...

Written Answers — Gaelscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht: Gaelscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá sé i gceist agam ceisteanna 291 agus 292 a fhreagairt le chéile. Is é beartas na Roinne Oideachais agus Eolaíochtaí go ndéanfaí teagasc trí Ghaeilge i scoileanna Gaeltachta a mhéad is féidir. Faigheann oidí i scoileanna Gaeltachta liúntas ar leith de €3,068 mar gheall ar theagasc trí Ghaeilge a chur ar fáíl. Soláthraíonn an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta raon...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has two main locations outside of Dublin, in Athlone and Tullamore, which were in existence prior to the announcement of the Decentralisation Programme in 2003. As you are aware, offices of the Department of Finance decentralised to Tullamore providing the primary opportunity for officers to move to that location under the Government's Decentralisation programme. Under the...

Whole School Evaluations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, on last Thursday, 18 June, the inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science published a whole school evaluation report on the school referred to in his question. The evaluation described the quality of educational provision at the school as highly unsatisfactory. I have expressed my clear concern about the serious weaknesses that were identified in...

Whole School Evaluations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The first thing I want to put on the record is that I accept that there have been difficulties in this school since 2003 or 2004. I accept that the inspectorate was aware of the difficulties in the school. I do not accept that the inspectors were not working with the board of management, the principal and others within the school to ensure that an improvement is brought about. One does not...

Whole School Evaluations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are two issues here. One is the payment that is made to the patron body of the particular group or organisation such as that made to Catholic or Protestant representative bodies. This Islamic education board indicated that it was the patron body for Muslim schools. The imam withdrew recognition of this group as a patron of Muslim schools. In those circumstances the Department...

Whole School Evaluations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister has audited accounts for 2008, as supplied by the present board of management. We have a commitment from the board and are working with its accountants on the furnishing of audited accounts for the previous years. On a point of clarification, I should point out to the Deputy that there are and could be legal difficulties in some of the issues pertaining to the previous board.

Schools Database. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is progressing work to improve systems within the Department to facilitate access to accurate and up-to-date information on individual schools to ensure more efficient use of official time and to reduce the administrative burden on schools. The Department began the process of rationalising internal databases several years ago. The aim is to have one central data holding for...

Schools Database. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes, obviously I would.

Schools Database. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have every evidence in that I have been working in this Department for more than 12 months. I find that the staff are an extremely committed, capable, hard working group whose sole interest is to ensure the top quality running and operation of the Department of Education and Science.

Schools Database. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can only respond to the Deputy to the effect that any of the information or tabulations he has required have been presented to him. I can think back to the projection on enrolments 2008-30, the details on pre-fab locations in primary schools and details on primary schools in the ownership of the Minister for Education and Science.

Schools Database. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy has asked me a question and I should like to be allowed the opportunity to reply to it. Deputy Quinn is a former Minister for Finance, a very responsible position and I have always said he did an excellent job. At that time, as a Deputy who served in Government with him, I recall Deputy Quinn asking various Departments to prioritise. In this instance, looking back on the Cromien...