Results 1,501-1,520 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are other consequential costs involved. The previous Minister clearly indicated that she was putting at bay the issue of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio for this year. That was her decision and it stands for 2008.

School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the programme for Government, my Department has established a developing areas unit to provide sufficient school accommodation in those areas experiencing the greatest population growth. The function of this unit is to liaise with local authorities, to identify where new schools are needed and to ensure that these schools are delivered in the fastest possible timeframe. As part of a...

School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thought I was being honest in that I indicated to Deputy Quinn that I would write to him personally outlining all of the data he sought relating to prefabricated buildings.

School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can only deal with the issue as I find it. I will write to the Deputy in the next week or so to give him the full details.

School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not think the picture is as bad as the Deputy paints it. During my term as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with for responsibility developing areas, I had many meetings with representatives of the planning and building unit of the Department of Education and Science. I met local authority managers in developing areas and we sat...

School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I think so.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the European Commission's Study on Benchmarking Access and Use of ICT in European Schools, which was published following two surveys carried out in Spring 2006. The study found that 66% of Irish schools had broadband internet connections as compared with 67% of European schools generally, which ranked Ireland at number 20 of the 27 countries surveyed....

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In 2005, 2006 and 2007, legal formalities were completed by my Department for the acquisition of 36 sites for primary schools at a cost in excess of €66m. I am arranging to have a tabular statement prepared in respect of all of the sites in question outlining the position relating to planning and construction on these and I will forward this information to the Deputy immediately. However,...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has to date entered into three separate contracts to design, build, finance, maintain and operate educational accommodation under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. There are two third level projects, the National Maritime College, Cork and the Cork School of Music as well as the Pilot PPP Schools which are located in Tubbercurry, Shannon, Ballincollig, Dunmanway and...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is assumed that this question relates to the timing of the oral examinations within the existing language subjects rather than the senior cycle curricular reforms. Discussions within a working group comprised of the partners in education have been held to explore other models of delivery of the oral examinations, in the context of concerns about maintaining the integrity of the school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The stages of architectural planning referred to by the Deputy arise from my Department's design team procedures for the procurement of major capital projects. These are necessary to comply with Department of Finance guidelines which require that capital projects be fully designed prior to going to tender. They also ensure proper cost management of capital projects and facilitate compliance...

Written Answers — School Governance: School Governance (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Work is continuing on the practical arrangements for the one day Conference that will be held on 27 June 2008 in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. It is envisaged that the conference will accommodate approximately 200 invited delegates. These will include representatives of the main patron bodies, management bodies, the wider primary education partners and other interested parties. I can...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on reductions in class size over the life of the Government. The Programme contains a commitment to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4000 and on that basis to make further progress on reducing class sizes. Budget 2008 provided my Department with...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The purpose of the C4 provision in the Estimates is to meet the costs of salary, employer's PRSI contributions, substitution and pensions for Special Needs Assistants in primary schools. The costs of salary, employers contributions and pension costs of the caretakers and clerical officers employed in primary schools under a scheme introduced in 1978 are also met from the sub-head. Special...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: All 13 Visiting Teachers for the Visually Impaired currently employed are fully qualified and probated primary or second-level teachers with at least two years teaching experience, the minimum qualification for appointment to the post of Visiting Teacher. In appointing Visiting Teachers for the Visually Impaired, preference may be given to applicants who hold additional qualifications...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The New Schools Advisory Committee was established to assess applications for the recognition of new primary schools and to make recommendations to the Minister. An application for recognition, from September 2008, of the new school to which the Deputy refers was received by the New Schools Advisory Committee. As the proposed school was deemed to meet the general criteria for new primary...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 116 together. The New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established in 2002 on foot of recommendations of the Commission on School Accommodation on a non-statutory basis. The Committee is charged with making recommendations to me in relation to applications received for new Primary schools using a set of published criteria. Under Section 10 of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of the proposed building project for the school in question is at an early stage. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including the application in question, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Members of religious orders, including representatives of the Christian Brothers, have kept my Department advised from time to time on the evolution of Trust Boards in their sector and the work they were engaged in to secure the future of the schools concerned. My Department is aware also that the Christian Brothers kept the relevant stakeholders, such as the management and teaching...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (21 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the funding pressures on schools generally and also of the recent submission on this matter by the Primary Management Bodies to the Joint Committee on Education and Science. It is a key priority for Government to improve funding for the day-to-day running costs of schools to help address these funding pressures. Specific commitments in relation to improving school funding form a...