Results 2,901-2,920 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As you will be aware, 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 to primary and post primary schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (18 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The application referred to by the Deputy is currently being considered by my Department and a decision will issue to the family shortly.

Written Answers — Home Tuition Scheme: Home Tuition Scheme (18 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The intent of the Home Tuition scheme has not changed in the past twelve months. The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting an...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (18 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have already reviewed this matter myself on foot of a detailed report received from the Residential Institutions Redress Unit of my Department. I sympathise very much with the position of the person referred to by the Deputy. I appreciate that in 1982 he approached the Department to advise it of the abuse he had suffered, and that the teacher who had abused...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (18 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's procedure for dealing with complaints of abuse are that all complaints are referred to the HSE which has statutory responsibility for dealing with such allegations. Similar procedures existed in the past. In the case of criminal investigations the Gardaí are the appropriate authority and my Department's policy is to provide the Gardaí with any papers or records they require....

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (18 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that, having had the file in this particular case reviewed, I do not feel that there is any benefit in requesting the Attorney General to become involved in this matter. I sympathise very much with the position of the person referred to by the Deputy. I appreciate that in 1982 he approached the Department to advise it of the abuse he had suffered, and that the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under Section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009 a person is liable to pay the pensions-related deduction if he or she is a public servant on or after the 1 March 2009 and is a member of a public service pension scheme, is entitled to a benefit under the scheme or receives a payment in lieu of membership of such a scheme. Accordingly, an individual who is...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has considered the additional information submitted by the school in question in support of its request to retain the special class for mild general learning disability. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has permitted the school to retain the special class for the 2009/2010 school year.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware, I announced last February that the school in question was to progress to architectural planning for the provision of a new permanent school building. Officials from my Department will be touch with the school authority shortly, in relation to the further progression of the project.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the Deputy's office has confirmed that his question relates to resource teaching support in the school. As you will be aware, 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 to primary and post primary schools to support...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently in rented accommodation. The need for playground facilities is a matter for the school authorities to discuss with the property owners. The Department is aware of the need to provide a permanent home for the school. It is examining options in this regard, although there has been some difficulty in obtaining alternative, suitable...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (17 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 178, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the person to whom she refers served as Principal in Rath National School during the mid-1960's. On the 2nd March 1965, the Department received a letter from a parent of children who were attending the school in question, in which she complained of the "infliction of unnecessary punishment" on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Stage 2B (Detailed Design) submission was received by my Department on the 15th of June and is currently being examined. My officials will revert to the school authorities in due course.

Written Answers — Educational Requirements: Educational Requirements (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I received representations from the Deputy on 9th June last. The criteria for appointment of Special Needs Assistants specifies that the minimum requirement necessary for appointment is an award of Grade D (or pass) in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Intermediate Certificate/Junior Certificate or Day Vocational Certificate Examination or in an examination of equivalent standard. Boards...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is recognised by my Department. In common with all schools, when initially established, the school was granted temporary recognition to allow it to demonstrate its viability and this temporary recognition remains in place. During its period of temporary recognition, accommodation remains the responsibility of the Patron. My Department has recently...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A reply has issued to the candidate referred to by the Deputy in respect of his appeal from the Higher Education- Equity Of Access Unit of my Department.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has advised the National Braille Production Centre (NBPC) that an allocation of €1,150,000 has been made available to the Centre in 2009. The NBPC has written to my Department seeking additional funding and my officials will be in further contact with the Centre in this regard. The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special...

Written Answers — Schools Accommodation: Schools Accommodation (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has given sanction to the school to which he refers for the provision of 4 extra classrooms to cater for its needs for next September. The school has been informed of this decision. As the Deputy has been previously advised, the Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently identifying the areas where significant additional...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In light of the Budget 2009 decision my Department has now published a circular for schools which sets out how the new arrangements will operate for the allocation of language support teachers from September 2009. The circular sets out a structured and transparent approach for the operation of the alleviation measures that were announced in the budget for schools that have a significant...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting an educational placement and to provide early intervention for pre-school children...