Results 2,181-2,200 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Higher Education Authority Funding: Higher Education Authority Funding (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1129 together. The Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through three sub-priorities: the Students Assistance Fund, the Fund for Students with Disabilities and the Millennium Partnership Fund. The Higher Education Authority also provides institutions with recurrent funding to develop the necessary infrastructure and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Funding: Higher Education Funding (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is committed to promoting Ireland as a centre for international education and a high quality educational experience for international students must be at the core of our offering. I recently announced my intention to establish a high level group on international education, which will initially focus on developing a national strategy for the promotion of international...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Media education is a specific strand unit within the social, personal and health education programme for all primary school pupils. By sixth class pupils develop an understanding of how information is conveyed, what may be deliberately excluded, the role of bias and the different messages promoted in advertising. The curriculum is designed to promote an increasingly critical and discerning...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware I presented the technical report in relation to the introduction of a form of student contribution to my Cabinet colleagues recently. This report sets out the various options available which looks at available models and draws on experience with other systems that operate internationally. The report is intended to allow for an informed examination of the issue —...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The courses referred to by the Deputy are not eligible courses under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes, which provide for grants only on a means-tested basis. I understand that discussions are currently ongoing between Fáilte Ireland, Institutes of Technology Ireland and the Higher Education Authority in relation to the future management and administration of these courses...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's PPP school building programme. A site has been purchased for the provision of a new school building. My Department is now in the process of identifying what school projects are eligible for consideration for inclusion in the 4th bundle of PPP schools which I intend announcing as quickly as possible and the school in question...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1136, 1281 together. I am aware of the case being made by Justice for Magdalene. The position of the women who resided in the Magdalen laundries is one of the issues that has also been raised by groups representing survivors, following publication of the Ryan Report. The position in relation to the Magdalen laundries under the existing redress arrangements,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume the Deputy is referring to the discontinuation of the Special Class for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) in the school in question. The Deputy will be aware that teacher allocations to schools typically increase or decrease depending on pupil enrolment. In the case of classes for MGLD the normal pupil teacher ratio that applies is 11:1. My Department however...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teachers are appointed in a temporary capacity to primary schools for various reasons. Examples are the replacement of teachers taking career breaks from teaching or replacing teachers on secondment arrangements. Temporary teachers may also be employed to fill short term vacancies pending the appointment of permanent replacements where teachers retire or resign from employment during the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are a total of 45 prefab units, (ranging from 16m2 to 473m2) being rented by schools in the Longford and Westmeath area. The total annual rental cost for all units is €824,215. It is anticipated that there will be a saving of at least €14m in expenditure on rental of temporary accommodation in 2009, compared to 2008. This clearly demonstrates the efforts being made by my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The candidate referred to by the Deputy is seeking funding under the maintenance grants schemes for a repeat period of study. Clause 7.2 of the Higher Education Maintenance Grant Scheme States; "A Grant is tenable for the normal duration of the approved course and is renewable annually subject to satisfactory attainment and the approval of the Local Authority, subject to the terms of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that plans are well in train to re-locate the school to which he refers to alternative and more suitable accommodation. The planning and Building Unit of my Department is working closely with the school authority to ensure that the transfer to this accommodation is as smooth as possible. With regard to the school's application for a new building, this, in...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Inspectorate is a Division within the Department of Education and Science. While inspectors are generally recruited to work in either the primary or post-primary sector, the work of the Inspectorate is managed as a unified service headed by the Chief Inspector. The Inspectorate is divided into two sub-divisions, each headed by a Deputy Chief Inspector. The Regional Subdivision is...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1144 and 1145 together. Since the implementation of the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Public Sector there has been a total of six retirements from the Inspectorate of my Department. Of these retirements, five were primary inspectors and one a post primary inspector. ^^ Proposed Legislation. ^^

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have indicated my intention to commence Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act in the near future. I have also indicated that the commencement of the section will provide for it to be regulated that a school may employ unregistered personnel on a time limited basis in exceptional circumstances. I believe that the above proposed legislative arrangement reflects the situation facing schools...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1147 to 1151, inclusive, together. With regard to the 2008/2009 academic year, 2,469 applications were accepted for probation. Of that number, 2,324 have successfully completed the required professional element and my Department is currently in the process of checking that the service requirement has been fulfilled. 58 teachers deferred their probation for...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1152 and 1161 to 1163, inclusive, together. My Department is progressing work to improve systems within the Department to facilitate access to accurate and up-to-date information both to ensure more efficient use of official time and to reduce the administrative burden on schools. My Department began the process of rationalising internal databases a number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1153 and 1154 together. The inventory to which the Deputy refers was a pilot project carried out in schools in County Kildare. It was intended that the results of this pilot project would be used by the Department to determine the merits, or otherwise, of expanding the inventory on a nationwide basis. The project commenced in 2001 and was completed in 2002....

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1155 and 1156 together. I will arrange to forward the information requested by the Deputy shortly. It is anticipated that there will be a saving of at least €14m in expenditure on rental of temporary accommodation in 2009, compared to 2008. This clearly demonstrates the efforts being made by my Department to reduce spending in this area. The saving arises...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Oct 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1157 and 1158 together. Details of the schools approved for a devolved capital grant to provide temporary accommodation (with the option to provide permanent accommodation instead for the same funding) are given in the following tabular statement. The list of approvals covers the period 2008 and 2009 to-date and indicate the options being pursued by the...