Results 1,741-1,760 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. SENOs also make recommendations where assistive technology is required. I can confirm that an application for a...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) 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 directly to discuss their...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers,...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Class size data for primary schools for 2007/2008 are currently being compiled by my Department and is not yet available. The source of this data is the Annual Census of Primary Schools. Data will become available when returns for all schools have been processed. The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, special schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the funding pressures on schools generally including also those in relation to the setting up of new schools. 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 central part of the education provisions of the Programme for...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The legalities of finalising the site acquisition at Blacklion are at an advanced stage. It is the intention of my Department to provide accommodation for the school on the site in Blacklion for September 2008.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A tender report for the project referred to by the Deputy has been received 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 will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he...

Written Answers — Pharmacy Graduates: Pharmacy Graduates (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The HEA published a study on the demand and need for graduates in Pharmacy in November 1999. The study was undertaken on behalf of the HEA by Peter Bacon and Associates, Economic Consultants. At the time, the only course was in Trinity College Dublin and provided 70 graduates per annum. The Bacon report recommended that at least 50 extra graduates per annum would be required to fill the...

Written Answers — Third Level Qualifications: Third Level Qualifications (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: All fully qualified post-primary teachers in Voluntary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools are in receipt of a primary degree and post-graduate qualification allowance. Two thousand six hundred and forty serving teachers are in receipt of a Masters Degree allowance, and two hundred and fifty five serving teachers are in receipt of PhD allowances. One hundred and thirty nine...

Written Answers — Departmental Projects: Departmental Projects (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled by officials in my Department and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has implemented a range of measures aimed at improving outcomes in Irish language learning and proficiency. One of these measures was the establishment of a subject-specific support service for second-level schools. The service forms part of the Second Level Support (SLSS) which provides programme and subject specific curricular support, and support for teaching and learning...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together. The assessment of Irish for the Junior Certificate includes provision for an optional oral examination which is conducted by the class teacher in accordance with guidelines issued by the State Examinations Commission. The decision on whether, or not, to avail of this option is taken at school level. The syllabus for Junior Certificate...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has implemented a range of measures aimed at improving outcomes in relation to Irish language learning and its proficiency. The Tús Maith initiative at primary level currently has thirty one cuiditheoirí on the team. The dual purposes are to improve the teaching of Irish and to improve teachers competence and confidence in the Irish language. Tús Maith cuiditheoir provide a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware an agreement was reached by the respective Patrons to rationalise provision of post-primary provision in the Tuam area to establish a single girls' school. The OPW have received a proposal for a site for the school which is currently with my Department for consideration and further instruction to the OPW. The further consideration of the site acquisition will be...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The three part time education centres in the Gaeltacht areas of Dingle, Conamara & Arainn and Gortahork have been allocated funding of €8,889 each for 2008. In addition to this funding a part-time administration post has been sanctioned for each of the three full-time centres whose catchment area encompasses the three part time teacher education centres in the Gaeltacht namely Tralee,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The responsibility for the recruitment and employment of individual special needs assistants is a matter for each school authority. The appointment procedures are outlined in Circular 03/03 — copy set out below. The current educational requirements specify that candidates for appointment to the post of special needs assistant must have been awarded Grade D (or pass) at least, in Irish,...