Results 2,661-2,680 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Student Support Bill has not moved to committee stage, as a number of legal and policy issues which have arisen require resolution before the necessary amendments can be tabled at committee. There are a number of reasons why progress to Committee Stage with the Bill has taken longer than originally anticipated. A number of amendments had to be considered arising from a review of the...

Written Answers — Institutional Child Abuse: Institutional Child Abuse (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On Wednesday 3rd June the Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues met with survivors groups to begin the process of discussion of the issues arising from the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach reiterated the apology issued to survivors by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, TD, and conveyed directly and personally a sincere...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 34 together. As the Deputies will be aware, I am currently finalising a review of policy options relating to the introduction of a form of student contribution. There are many complex and competing considerations involved. These include considerations relating to institutional funding, family affordability, equity, participation and value for money...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The UN Human Rights Committee considered various aspects of Irish law and practice during its 93rd session in Geneva in July 2008. The report on the proceedings included the recommendation that, "The State party should increase its efforts to ensure that non-denominational primary education is widely available in all regions of the State party, in view of the increasingly diverse and...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 35 and 37 together. My Department is currently consulting directly with patrons about specific areas where the establishment of new schools will be required and how emerging demands in these areas will be addressed and as part of the process will be seeking details of any schools where a change of patronage might potentially be relevant. In tandem with...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government has recently approved the scheme of the Education (Patronage) Bill 2009. The purpose of this Bill is to put in place a legal framework which will facilitate the involvement of Vocational Education Committees in the provision of primary education. The scheme of Bill has been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government which is the statutory authority...

Written Answers — Suíomhanna Scoile: Suíomhanna Scoile (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil teagasca tugtha d'Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí dul ar aghaidh leis an suíomh a fháil ach cead pleanála a bheith faighte. 2.3 acra a bheidh i gceist leis an gceannach agus is í Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí a bheidh i gceannas ar an gcaibidlíocht. Tar éis don gceannach a bheith curtha i gcrích, machnófar an tionscadal tógála don...

Written Answers — Skills Strategy: Skills Strategy (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The OECD PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2006 survey of 15 years olds across 57 countries showed that Ireland's mean score in mathematics was not significantly different from the OECD average. We ranked 16th of 30 OECD countries and 22nd of 57 countries. There were fewer lower achievers and higher achievers than the OECD average, with the majority of pupils scoring in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has considered correspondence submitted by a number of schools appealing the decision to suppress classes for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD). Responses issued to these schools on 11 June last. A small number of schools have corresponded further with my Department and a...

Written Answers — Whole School Evaluations: Whole School Evaluations (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, on Thursday 18 June, the Inspectorate of my Department published a whole-school evaluation report on the school in question. The WSE report described a highly unsatisfactory situation at the school in relation to the quality of educational provision. I have already expressed my very great concern regarding the serious weaknesses that were identified in the...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is currently considering a number of broad policy issues relating to the recognition process for second level schools. To facilitate full consideration of all of the issues involved, my Department has sought legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the system of patronage at second level. Officials from my Department have recently met with their...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy is 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. The establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The prioritisation criteria for major school building projects were introduced by my Department following a report on the Prioritisation of School Building Projects carried out by Mr. Frank Pignatelli. The band rating system was refined in 2004, following consultation with the education partners. Under the criteria, individual projects are assigned a band rating. Documents explaining the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I have asked officials of my Department to issue a copy of the protocols to which he is referring directly to the Deputy. In relation to the review, as I have previously advised the House, a full review is being undertaken of the valuation process applied for each property involved including the application of protocols relating to grants paid. This review is being overseen by the external...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer to my response on this issue to the Deputy on 23rd June 2009. As previously outlined, the Board of the NEWB has been mandated to make arrangements for its new extended remit and have commenced this work with an inclusive, structured and planned approach engaging with all relevant parties. Consultation is currently under way, involving all the individual services, to develop an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that I met a delegation from the school to which the Deputy refers in January of this year. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department operates a prioritisation system for school building projects, details of which are published on my Department's website. My Department has received an application for major capital funding for the provision of a new building by the school...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I introduced an amendment to the scheme in July of 2008 which allows those schools with an urgent and pressing need for additional accommodation which is likely to last for more than 3 years, and who are being given approval for grant aid, to avail of the option of using their grants either to purchase prefabs or to construct permanent classrooms for the same amount. Funding is approved...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the modernisation agenda for teachers under the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 it was agreed to address the issue of difficulties in relation to teacher performance. It was recognised that while the vast majority of teachers fulfil their teaching function and professional duties adequately and well, there are, as in all professions, a small number of under performing...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware the appeal in question has already been heard by the Supreme Court and judgement is awaited. Aside from the issues pertaining to the operation of the Redress Board, the High Court decision had much wider implications for the State. The Judgement in this case undermines the right of the Oireachtas to adopt age based criteria in its legislative classifications....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: On 24 June 2009 there were 35 primary school principals, 2 secondary school principals, 40 primary school teachers and 15 secondary school teachers who had previously been awarded pensions by my Department employed under a fixed term or temporary teaching contract in primary, secondary and community schools. In the main these teachers were employed in a regular part-time capacity (ie...