Results 1,941-1,960 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. My officials have been in contact with the NCSE and I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the pupil in question has been granted 4...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A timeframe for the delivery of the planned second level school at Clonburris, Lucan will be known when a suitable site has been identified and acquired. My Department is conscious of the lead-in period for the delivery of a post-primary school and it would be anxious to conclude the site issue as soon as possible. It will continue to engage with the local authority until this matter is resolved.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is awaiting confirmation from the school authorities about the extent of the school's catchment area. When the relevant information is received, the acquisition of the site for the school in question will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. I am not in a position to say at this stage when the acquisition...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (19 Jun 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 of...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A timeframe for the delivery of the planned second level school at Clonburris, Lucan will be known when a suitable site has been identified and acquired. My Department is conscious of the lead-in period for the delivery of a post-primary school and it would be anxious to conclude the site issue as soon as possible. It will continue to engage with the local authority until this matter is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early 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. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has made an application for an additional classroom. My Department will be in contact with the school authorities as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's role in relation to physical education in the school curriculum is to approve the syllabus to be delivered in primary and post-primary schools, to prescribe the amount of time to be allocated to it, to provide appropriate training for teachers to deliver the subject and to provide resources to schools. In fulfilling that role, my Department is advised by the National Council...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the school has applied to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for resource teaching hours in respect of the child in question. The 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 autism. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 294, inclusive, together. The meetings at Ministerial level to which the Deputy refers were arranged to discuss specific issues, including the common challenges and issues which are faced by Ireland and other countries in the area of education and the potential for co-operation between educational institutions. The meetings with Ambassadors were...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A progress report received from the Design Team is under examination by the Professional and Technical Staff in my Department at present. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 to 299, inclusive, together. It is my belief that a well planned Physical Education programme has a vitally important role to play in a broad and balanced curriculum for our primary and second level students. At primary level, Physical Education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum which was introduced in 1999. A...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department currently has a variety of syllabuses and programmes in place for Physical Education. Among these are the primary school curriculum in Physical Education, the revised Junior Cycle Physical Education syllabus, the Leaving certificate syllabus in PE and the Health and Leisure module as part of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme. The primary and Junior Cycle curricula are...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Physical education is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, and at post primary level all schools are required to offer physical education. A revised Junior Cycle Physical Education syllabus was introduced in 2003, and the Leaving Certificate syllabus in PE and the Health and Leisure module of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme are also available. In addition, Social Personal...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: School sports partnerships along the lines of those that exist in the UK have not been formally established in the State. However, apart from the formal PE curricula being delivered at primary and post-primary levels, our schools also play a major role in nurturing and promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for an extension project. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department considers that the development of the project to date is within its guidelines. There is no question of the school being penalised because of the time involved in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Tramore. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for an extension project. The development of a building project for the school is at an early stage, and requires a technical visit to progress matters. As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for capital funding are prioritised and advanced incrementally by my Department. This applies to the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together. As the Deputy may be aware, 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. Applications for SNAs may be considered by the NCSE where...