Results 2,641-2,660 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

State Examinations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On the morning of 3 June 2009 a superintendent distributed in error the leaving certificate English paper 2 which was scheduled for the following morning, 4 June. When he realised his error he immediately retrieved the incorrect papers and distributed the correct papers. The State Examinations Commission was notified of the problem at exactly 3.55 p.m. by the principal of the school. The...

State Examinations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes.

State Examinations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The principal of the school contacted the State Examinations Commission at approximately 3.50 p.m. or 3.55 p.m. The Department of Education and Science was contacted at approximately 5 p.m. Every year there are hoax calls into the commission indicating that some paper has been compromised and an evaluation must be carried out to check to see what exactly has happened. In this case the...

State Examinations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I already indicated I would.

State Examinations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The papers are held in a safe and are clearly annotated and marked. There is a process by which the superintendent of the examination collects the relevant paper and has it co-signed by two students who will identify that the examination paper has not been tampered with and opened. Those two students will sign that paper. There was in this case a further note in the envelope indicating...

State Examinations. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The cost will be more than €1 million. We still have not received all the cost implications from Bus Éireann and a number of other sources.

School Patronage. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Changes in the landscape of Irish society as well as current economic constraints provide a backdrop for the challenges facing our education system over the coming years. In June last year I hosted a conference on the governance challenges for future primary school needs and the need to provide an opportunity for patron bodies, the wider education partners and others with an interest in the...

School Patronage. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I met with representatives of Educate Together last week and indicated that I would give consideration to its application for patronage at second level during the summer months. However, I saw this as a serious policy issue and one I would have to bring to Government, which I propose to do. My officials met Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in late 2007. We wanted to discuss statements he had made...

School Patronage. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I did not rule out a forum in the future. Equally, however, I held a conference in June of last year in Kilmainham at which representatives all of the main patrons spoke. It is important to remember that there is also a commission on school accommodation in place. I emphasised to the commission that I wanted it to report to me in respect of school patronage. I see this as a working forum...

School Patronage. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes. The various patron bodies are represented on this commission. In addition, there are two model VEC schools in operation. It is our intention to evaluate what will be the results of these two pilot projects. It is very early days, however, as these schools have been in operation for under a year. We will await the outcome of these pilot projects.

School Patronage. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As already stated, there is no reason a forum could not be established in the future. However, I must be informed as to the exact position. I have put in place the commission on school accommodation, on which all of the patron bodies are represented and to which they are all providing of their expertise, and I would like to await the results of its deliberations. In addition, particular...

School Management. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In order to improve the information systems available to my Department in respect of primary and post-primary schools, my Department's forward planning section uses geographical information system, GIS, technology which contains a certain level of information on all schools in the country at both primary and post-primary level. I understand the planning and building unit recently gave a...

School Management. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not agree with the Deputy. The statistics available to me indicate there will be an additional 50,000 students in the system by 2015.

School Management. (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am referring to the most recent information that has been made available to me. With regard to the Department and the use of the GIS, two years ago we had a serious problem in the context of finding accommodation for the various pupils who entered the system. Last year, however, as a result of outstanding co-operation on the part of county and city managers, the Department accurately...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of...

Written Answers — School Planning: School Planning (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Code of Practice in relation to "The Provision of Schools and the Planning System", which was published in July 2008 sets out the best practice approaches that should be followed by planning authorities and by my Department in ensuring that the planning system plays its full part in facilitating the timely and cost-effective provision of school facilities. This Code of Practice, which was...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 22, 24 and 166 together. On Thursday 4th June 2009, the Taoiseach, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues, met with representatives of the Religious Congregations to begin the process of addressing with them the issues arising from the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach conveyed the view of the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the Local Authority or VEC, as appropriate. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to their parents income. The assessment as an independent mature student has to be carefully considered to ensure it is targeted at very specific circumstances where mature...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There has been ongoing engagement and discussion with the relevant education partners involving me and/or my senior officials concerning general education matters and specific budgetary matters since the budget announcements last October. To be clear there is no doubt that the budget measures concerning staffing will have an impact. There is simply no easy way to control or reduce public...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following the publication of the Ryan Report the Taoiseach and members of the cabinet met with representatives of the survivors of abuse. Meetings were also held with the relevant religious congregations. At these meetings and through other submission a range of matters were raised including issues such as those raised in the proposed Bill referred to in the question. These matters will...