Results 6,241-6,260 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Jul 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. To be clear there is no doubt that the budget measures...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 221 together. Information in relation to average class size and pupil teacher ratio is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The details for the current school year (2008/2009) are currently being compiled by my Department and the final outcome will be available later in the summer.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Jul 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 Accommodation: School Accommodation (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for future years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, the drafting of Government legislation is a matter for the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government which is the statutory body charged with that function. I am satisfied that the drafting of legislation on behalf of my Department is dealt with as expeditiously as possible in order that it may be put before the Houses of the Oireachtas for debate at...

Institutional Child Abuse Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey and Deputies Tim Dooley and Beverley Flynn.

Institutional Child Abuse Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Before I deal with the issues raised in the Labour Party's proposed Bill, it is worthwhile reflecting on the progress we have made in recognising and admitting that children in institutions were not appropriately cared for and how the Government and indeed the entire State has addressed and responded to this matter. In 1999, the Taoiseach's apology was an admission that the State had failed...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Higher education institutions are conscious of the need to develop more flexible modes of learning and my Department is working with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to support the expansion of opportunities in this area. Developmental funding has already been allocated under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). One key activity funded by the SIF is the Supported Flexible Learning...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department, as a sanctioning agency has an obligation to ensure that, as part of suitability assessment for placing on tender lists for projects, Contractors have adequate economic and financial capacity. One of the key criteria for assessing financial and economic capacity is the average annual turnover of the contracting company over the previous three years. The purpose of this is...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 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. Students should seek information or clarification directly from the relevant assessing authority. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I was appointed Minister for Education and Science on 7 May 2008 and I will provide the information requested from that date. The amount of mobile telephone bills paid in relation to the Departmental mobile telephone assigned to me in 2008 to 31st May 2009 (the latest date for which figures are available) is set out in the following table. I can confirm that the telephone costs refer to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Jul 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 additional resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to primary and post primary schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Patron of this school has indicated to the Department that he wishes the school to continue while fully acknowledging that the difficulties at the school have to be resolved. I believe these matters must be dealt with in a fair and balanced manner. The Patron and Board of this school are entitled to support in their endeavours to bring about the required improvement and like any other...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Education Act, 1998 does not contain any provision whereby the Minister can replace the patron of a school. Section 11 of the Education Act 1998 provides for withdrawal of recognition of a school where the Minister is satisfied that the requirements for recognition of a school are not being met by a school or that the functions of a school are not being effectively discharged. In...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy and I note that the newspaper has asserted that to protect the children's anonymity the school in question is not mentioned in the article. Since late 2006, my Department received a number of allegations against some teachers employed at a school in Kilkenny. My Department is aware from this correspondence that the nature of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department of Education & Science has been an applicant or plaintiff in four cases during the period in question. In two of these cases the Department was a co-applicant with other Government Departments and other public bodies whilst in the two remaining cases the Department was the sole Applicant or Plaintiff. Legal costs incurred by the State, in prosecuting those cases which are...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that my Department has received an application for major capital funding for the provision of an extension for the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 2.1 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I attended a number of functions in County Mayo on 22nd April including the launch of Mayo Vocational Education Committee Active Living and Learning Initiative. While visiting with the VEC there in Castlebar I did indeed turn a sod at the site of the proposed Joe Langan Sports Hall at Davitt College. The project was out to tender at the time. My Department recently authorised County Mayo...