Results 7,941-7,960 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputies refer is at an early stage of architectural planning. Officials from my Department visited the school in December and discussed the project with representatives from the school and the design team. Following the meeting, it was agreed that the design team would proceed to submit proposals for an appropriate design solution for the school. My Department is...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department grant-aids the provision of temporary accommodation in respect of schools requiring interim accommodation to cater for additional staffing allocations while awaiting the provision of permanent accommodation. The school to which the Deputy refers applied for the replacement of existing rented prefabs with new prefabs in April 2009....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for the provision of an ASD Unit for the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 1.2 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 242 together. I can confirm that an application under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been received from the School to which the Deputy refers. Following an assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme....

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Renewed Programme for Government provides for funding to be made available to allow schools to provide grant assistance for books. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that €7.65m of additional grant support has been made available as a result of the Budget for 2010, which is in addition to the €7m that...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As previously indicated to the Deputy, in my reply to Parliamentary Question No.191 of 18 February 2010 my Department does not maintain a list of such agreements and as such, I am not in a position to confirm that there are not similar agreements in place. My Department approved by way of letter of 22 February 1991 the use of a classroom to be used by a Montessori School which operates in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Report of the Task Force on Active Citizenship in 2007 includes a recommendation on the development of a senior cycle programme on citizenship for schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been progressing the development of a new subject "Politics and Society", which is proposed as an optional examinable full subject in the Leaving Certificate. A draft syllabus...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: What makes me feel uncomfortable is that somebody is trying to make hay from the plight of children with special needs and using it to gain publicity. It is an unnecessary building of emotions.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I prefer to deal in facts.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is amazing that the Senator can make accusations but I cannot answer her.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Fine Gael for tabling the motion which gives me the opportunity to outline the facts and counteract the effects of some of the misinformation currently abroad. The achievements of the Government in the area of special education during the past ten years demonstrate a real desire to deliver an appropriate education for children with special educational needs. In sharp contrast to the...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Ten years ago there were only 300 hundred special needs assistants.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government recognised many years ago that education for children with special educational needs could only be delivered through consistent and ongoing multi-annual investment in teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, assistive technology, specialist equipment, adapted school buildings and special school transport arrangements. We have also recognised the professionals who teach...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The renewed programme for Government makes a commitment to avoid increasing the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and second level schools over the lifetime of this Government and provides for 500 teaching posts in the next three years over and above additional posts that will arise due to demographic increases. I am pleased to advise Senators that 100 of these posts are being used to improve...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Senator Healy Eames should know better than to go out of her way to increase the fear and anxiety of parents just to score points against the Government.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: She should not follow her leader's example by being herself.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will finish by stating a fact, which is something the Senator's statements are all too often lacking. Any child who needs a special needs assistant and meets the criteria will get one.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: This Government will continue to deliver for pupils with special educational needs. I commend the counter motion to the House.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of projects authorised to prepare tender documents. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In December 2009, stage 2(a) was approved and the design team were authorised to apply for planning permission. My Department is currently awaiting the school's...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Feb 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which the Deputy refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of projects going to tender and construction. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning Permission was received in November 2009. In December 2009, a delegation from the school and its design team attended a briefing by my Department on...