Results 2,321-2,340 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Oideachais Gaeltachta: Oideachais Gaeltachta (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá géar-riachtanas ann laghduithe suntasacha a dhéanamh i gcaiteachas buiséadach insna blianta romhainn amach. Machnófar na leibhéil caiteachais do mo Roinnse mar chuid den phróiseas Meastachán agus buiséadach do 2010. San áireamh anseo beidh machnamh ar thuarascáil an Ghrúpa Speisialta um Uimhreacha Seirbhíse Poiblí agus um Chláir Chaiteachais. Gnó don Rialtas é na...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes will be considered as part of the estimates process for 2010. The decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

Written Answers — Education Centre Network: Education Centre Network (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department gives support and funding to a network of twenty one full time and nine part time centres and the three centres mentioned by the Deputy operate on a part time basis. As the Deputy is aware the recently published "Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes" recommended a specific number of options for reducing current spending in my...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act and to do so in a manner that respects principles of equality. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: To qualify for the Special Rate of maintenance grant, an applicant must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the 2009/10 academic year. In addition, total reckonable income must not exceed a specified amount, which is €22,308 in the 2008 tax year. On the operative date, 31st December 2008 for the 2009/10 academic year, the reckonable income must include one of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas, throughout the country, where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for future years. The area referred to by the Deputy will be included in this process. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government Decision to reduce the payment period for commercial transactions from 30 to 15 calendar days came into effect from 15 June 2009. The records of payments to suppliers and other contractors made by my Department between 19 May 2009 and 17 September 2009 show that approximately 80% of payments were made within 15 days from the date of receipt of a valid invoice from a supplier,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, there is an ongoing need for capital investment in educational infrastructure in all sectors due to anticipated demographic increases which will lead to increasing enrolments and participation levels. There will also be a continuing requirement to upgrade existing accommodation in our schools and third-level institutions. The extent of capital expenditure in the...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 389, inclusive, together. My Department has an arrangement with the Colleges of Education whereby data on the student and graduate numbers is collected twice a year. The intention of this arrangement is to collate the data at optimum times in order to capture full and accurate information. This process is now taking place and I hope to have the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 392 and 415 to 418, inclusive, together. The budget measures will impact on individual schools in different ways depending on whether enrolment is rising or declining and the degree to which any one school has more teachers than it is entitled to under the allocation processes. My Department does not keep dual records for teacher allocations to schools...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 393 together. Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. At the level of individual schools the budget changes in relation to the allocation of teaching posts will impact in different ways depending on whether enrolment is rising or...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together. I wish to assure the Deputy that there will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability. All primary...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 to 404, inclusive, and 431 together. The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the Tabular Statement. Retirements numbers for September are also included but this may, of course, change before the end of this month. The figures for post-primary teachers do not include VEC teachers where the retirements and pension benefit awards are made by the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together. The number of primary teachers holding special duties posts who were promoted to the post of Principal since 27 March 2009 is 65. The number of primary teachers holding assistant principal posts who were appointed to the post of Principal since 27 March 2009 is 12.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. Teachers in primary schools are appointed and employed by the managerial authorities of the schools. They are paid salary on behalf of the managerial authorities by my Department. There are no unqualified teachers being paid on my Department's payroll and employed in primary schools in a temporary full time capacity in the period...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together. Teachers in primary schools are appointed and employed by the managerial authorities of schools. They are paid salaries on behalf of the managerial authorities by my Department. The information obtained from the payroll database indicates that ten retired teachers were employed in a temporary capacity during the period referred to by the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together. The Teaching Council was established on a statutory basis in March 2006 to promote teaching as a profession at primary and post-primary levels in Ireland. Teachers who have met the registration requirements of the Teaching Council are permitted to teach in State recognised primary and post-primary schools and have their salaries paid...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together. Registration as a teacher at primary or post-primary (including further education) level is governed by Section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Act, 2001. The application process involves the submission of an application form, together with transcripts, proof of identity, evidence of character, other documentary evidence and the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to my Department's decision to suppress a number of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability (MGLD) in some primary schools. I wish to assure the Deputy that there will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (17 Sep 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Higher Education Grants Schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Each year, the scheme specifies a list of approved institutions for grants purposes. The approved institutions mainly comprise of public funded third level institutions. I understand the course referred to by the Deputy is provided by a private college which is not approved...