Results 1,361-1,380 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Over the seven years of the National Development Plan (NDP) €13 billion will be invested under the Human Capital Priority to develop the capacity of the higher education sector to meet a number of key national objectives, including that of increasing the numbers of students participating in the sector. The focus will continue from the previous NDP on measures targeting the increased...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a new system of means-tested free fees for approved part-time courses will be considered over the life time of the Government. In relation to the commitment on part time fees in paragraph 7.9 of Towards 2016, my Department and the HEA have initiated the process of developing proposals for a targeted fund, to be...

Written Answers — Student Transfers: Student Transfers (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 2007, in consultation with stakeholders, the National Qualifications Authority Ireland reviewed the extent to which new and existing transfer and progression routes are operating effectively within the National Framework of Qualifications. This review concluded that the traditional web of transfer and progression arrangements prior to the Framework is gradually evolving to take account of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Institutes: Higher Education Institutes (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, an envelope of close to €2 billion has been provided for investment in higher education infrastructure. At the end of the first year of the programme, implementation of this measure is progressing satisfactorily with 2007 funding used to deliver additional capacity for apprentices in 4 institutes of technology as well as equipping institutes to...

Written Answers — Student Representation: Student Representation (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The commitment under the Programme for Government to appoint a further student representative to the HEA can be accommodated under existing legislation and will be considered when future vacancies arise. The composition of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is set out in Section 6 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, and provides for one representative of...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher Education Section has provided for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs. Central to this is the "Special Education Support Service" (SESS). The Teacher Education Section of my Department established the Special Education Support Service (SESS) in September 2003. The service consolidates co-ordinates,...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's policy is to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in Further Education by making available the supports required to enable them to access the various programmes on offer. The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), while primarily targeting the unemployed, also facilitates people with disabilities. Under VTOS, full-time...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: A tender report for the project referred to by the Deputy is currently under examination by my Department. The contract for the project has not yet been awarded. 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...

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 — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: To date applications have been received to invoke Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular the existing roles of the Universities and Institutes of Technology which have...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for funding for the provision of temporary accommodation has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The assessment of the application is nearing completion. The school authorities will be informed of the position shortly.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: In April, 2008, my Department notified the school in question that based on its enrolments it has an over-allocation of 5 hours under the General Allocation Model for the 07/08 school year. My Department is liaising with the school on this matter and given that this issue has only recently come to light it is not intended to reduce the school's allocation for this school year. All primary...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that 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 to schools to support children with special needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed extension for the school in question will cater for a long term enrolment of 700 pupils. The accommodation to be provided will consist mainly of specialist rooms (Mathematics, Arts/Crafts, Physics Lab., Construction Studies etc.) with stores, staff accommodation and circulation making up the rest. The architectural planning of the project is at an advanced stage. The further...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a full list of primary and post-primary schools, on a county by county basis, is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The terms of award of incremental credit to teachers are determined by the Conciliation Council for Teachers, which is the forum for the discussion by representatives of the management and staff sides of claims, terms and conditions of employment. Arrangements for the award of incremental credit for primary teachers are outlined in Circular 10/01, and any changes in arrangements would have...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school 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 and the progression of individual...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (14 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My predecessor and officials of my Department met with the Trustees of the school and discussed with them the language policy of the school. I understand that the Trustees have engaged in discussions with the school's Board of Management on the issue. The Board of Management recently contacted my Department advising that they had appointed a person to review how the school facilitates pupils...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Enrolment data for the school year 2007/2008 are currently being processed and are not yet available. Schools have flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and the Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups. The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (14 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In March 2007 plans were announced to increase the proportion of marks available for oral assessment in the certificate examinations in Irish to 40%, for pupils beginning second level schooling in 2007/8. This will impact on the voluntary oral Irish examination available as an option within the Junior Certificate from 2010 onwards, and the national oral examinations in the Leaving Certificate...