Results 1,301-1,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Among the priority funding measures approved for support in 2006/2007 under the Educational Disadvantage category of the Dormant Account Fund and the RAPID Leverage Fund was a scheme addressing educational infrastructure in disadvantaged schools. Eligibility for the scheme was restricted to primary and post primary schools participating in my Department's DEIS programme, schools in, or...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at a very advanced stage of the architectural planning process. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. It is not...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is proposed to provide an extension to the school to which the Deputy refers. Revised schedules of accommodation have been forwarded to the VEC for acceptance. Once the schedules have been accepted, the question of the appointment of the design team will arise and this will be considered in the context of the Department's school building and modernisation programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers on a V.E.C. owned site. The site was recently master planned to ascertain if it would be feasible to facilitate both this school and two other all-Irish schools on the site. With the completion of the masterplan, progress on the project can now be considered in the context of my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently operating in temporary accommodation on a site that is in the ownership of Co. Dublin VEC. The Department is in consultation with the VEC on the possibility of using this site, together with an additional portion of VEC lands, to cater for this school's long term accommodation needs. A study has been conducted to determine the feasibility...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware from Minister Hanafin's recent announcement that Educate Together was granted provisional recognition to establish the school referred to. The Department intends to provide accommodation for that school on lands currently in the process of being acquired in Lucan, Co. Dublin. My Department in the context of Lucan's rapidly developing status is providing as phase I,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth of pupil numbers are monitored. Among the factors to be considered is the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments and suitability of accommodation. During the period of provisional recognition, it is the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is exploring as an option the provision of a new building on the existing school site. The further progression of the acquisition of the site and the associated building project will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when a new school building will be available.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A grant was sanctioned in March 2007 to enable the management authority of the school in question to extend and modernise their school. This scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives them control of the building project. I understand that construction is due to commence during the summer holidays...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A grant was sanctioned in March 2007 for the school in question to enable the management authority to extend and modernise their school. The Scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives them control of the building project. I understand that construction work is due to commence in the next few weeks...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Development Plan provides for investment of €252m in a comprehensive new ICT in Schools strategy over the period of the plan from 2007-2013. The new strategy will address the upgrading and renewal of hardware, the provision of software and digital content for learning, teacher professional development, curriculum development, the maintenance of the national broadband network...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school in question. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area was carried out in order to inform the determination of the long term projected staffing on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. This has been finalised and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building has been received from the Management Authority of the school referred to by Deputy. Applications for large scale capital funding are assessed and banded in accordance with published prioritisation criteria. These criteria were agreed following consultation with the Education Partners. The progression of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Schedules of overall accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers have been agreed with Co. Cork Vocational Education Committee to cater for a long term enrolment of 325 pupils. The progression of this project as with all large scale building projects, from initial design stage through to construction phase, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together. My Department is currently working on compiling a database which will provide the type of information the Deputy has requested. Work on this database is underway as part of a general review of rental policy being undertaken. Information will be collated on approximately 900 schools which have received approval from the Department to rent...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has agreed a long-term plan for the development of the school referred to by the Deputy. A proposed Schedule of Overall Accommodation for the school was recently sent to the school authorities for their consideration and the Department is currently awaiting a reply in this regard. The Department is also in the process of arranging a technical site visit to the school and will...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs, including autism. Special classes for children with autism are staffed by a teacher and a minimum of 2 SNAs for every 6 children....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. It is not possible at this...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now in the region of 6,000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. By the 2006/07 school year, we had reduced the average class size in our primary schools to 24, while the pupil teacher ratio was 16.4:1, including resource teachers etc. In that year, schools were...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to second level are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules relating to recognised pupil enrolment. In general a ratio of 18:1 is applied in respect of recognised pupils on established Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, repeat Leaving Certificate and Transition Year Programmes and a ratio of 16:1 is applied in respect...