Results 6,561-6,580 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together. I wish to assure the Deputy that there will be no pupil with a special educational need who 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. All primary...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 to 404, inclusive, and 431 together. The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the Tabular Statement. Retirements numbers for September are also included but this may, of course, change before the end of this month. The figures for post-primary teachers do not include VEC teachers where the retirements and pension benefit awards are made by the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together. The number of primary teachers holding special duties posts who were promoted to the post of Principal since 27 March 2009 is 65. The number of primary teachers holding assistant principal posts who were appointed to the post of Principal since 27 March 2009 is 12.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. Teachers in primary schools are appointed and employed by the managerial authorities of the schools. They are paid salary on behalf of the managerial authorities by my Department. There are no unqualified teachers being paid on my Department's payroll and employed in primary schools in a temporary full time capacity in the period...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together. Teachers in primary schools are appointed and employed by the managerial authorities of schools. They are paid salaries on behalf of the managerial authorities by my Department. The information obtained from the payroll database indicates that ten retired teachers were employed in a temporary capacity during the period referred to by the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together. The Teaching Council was established on a statutory basis in March 2006 to promote teaching as a profession at primary and post-primary levels in Ireland. Teachers who have met the registration requirements of the Teaching Council are permitted to teach in State recognised primary and post-primary schools and have their salaries paid...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together. Registration as a teacher at primary or post-primary (including further education) level is governed by Section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Act, 2001. The application process involves the submission of an application form, together with transcripts, proof of identity, evidence of character, other documentary evidence and the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 177 and 179 together. When I announced details of the student maintenance grant schemes for the 2009/2010 academic year I also gave notice that, with effect from the start of the 2010/11 academic year, further changes will be introduced. These include: Some social welfare allowances, including the Back to Education Allowance which had been excluded in...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Student Support Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The Bill makes provision for the transfer of responsibility for student grants to the VEC sector. In the existing budgetary situation,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: In relation to the issue of the introduction of a form of student contribution, the Deputy will be aware that I recently presented a technical report to my Cabinet colleagues. This report sets out the various options available which looks at available models and draws on experience with other systems that operate internationally. The report is intended to allow for an informed examination...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile: Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá tionscadal mór tógála ag an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ag ardchéim pleanála ailtireachta faoi láthair. Tá eolas i dtaobh an chláir reatha tógála scoile, an tionscadal dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ina measc, le fáil anois ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne ag www.education.ie. Braitheann cur chun cinn gach uile tionscadal tógála ar scála mór, an ceann seo san áireamh,...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Support for full-time students with disabilities in third level institutions, including personal assistants, is provided under the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD), which is one of a number of funding programmes which come under the Third Level Access Measure. There has been no cut in the budget for the FSD. A gross allocation of €12.5m has been set aside by the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a number of amendments to the Student Support Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The Bill makes provision for the transfer of responsibility for student grants to the VEC sector. In the existing budgetary situation,...

Written Answers — Property Transfers: Property Transfers (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is agreeable in principle to the request to divest the property referred to by the Deputy. My officials will in the coming days write to the Diocesan Solicitors seeking updated Trustee details. Upon receipt of this information the matter will be progressed further by my Department.

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Apart from the maintenance grants scheme and the free fees initiative, financial support is also available to students, in approved third level institutions, through the Student Assistance Fund. The objective of the Fund, is to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The postgraduate programme referred to by the Deputy is not one of the approved courses under the Labour Market Activisation initiative. Places under this initiative were awarded following a competitive Call for Proposals issued by the HEA to the publicly funded third level institutions in June to provide 1,000 part-time postgraduate places in areas identified by the Expert Group on Future...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education has confirmed to my officials that it will issue a response to the correspondence in question during the coming week.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The postgraduate diploma in primary education is currently provided by four state-funded Colleges of Education. The issue of providing such courses in the coming year is currently being considered in the context of likely demands in the system and the resources available. A decision on the matter will be communicated to the relevant colleges as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 21 September 2009 a reply issued to the candidate referred to by the Deputy in respect of his appeal.