Results 3,281-3,300 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Legal Costs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Claims Agency pursues cases on behalf of the Government and the Department.

Legal Costs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: This case was very different from many others and its sensitivity was not lost on me. The girl is from Cork and I was certainly very sensitive to the whole area. I indicated early on that I, as Minister, would not pursue her in terms of taking her house from under her feet but would deal with the matter in a fair and even-handed manner. That said, is Deputy Hayes suggesting that, when a...

Legal Costs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I want to say one other thing to Deputy Hayes, because it is relevant. Approximately 140 similar cases are being taken against the State. The State Claims Agency has advised the legal persons representing those individuals of the outcome of this case and indicated to them that they will have to consider the costs involved in pursuing cases similar to the one that has already been through...

Legal Costs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Absolutely.

Legal Costs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department of Education and Science gives out the responsibility to run schools and manage and hire teachers, and we pay their salaries. We do not micro manage the day-to-day running of schools. That is as it should be. We have to make a distinction. In one instance where the Department was made aware that there was a difficulty within a school, it accepted responsibility and came to...

Legal Costs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: We were made aware in one case and we came to an arrangement because we felt that, as the Department had been made aware but did not take decisive action, there was a responsibility. In this instance, the Department was not made aware of the case in terms of the day-to-day running of the school. In those circumstances, and in light of all the other cases that were going to emanate and were...

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not visit every school or class where the level of staffing or funding has been adversely affected by the application of various policies. Not only would it be physically impossible for me to visit every school where a teaching post is being suppressed, I suggest this would not represent the best use of a Minister's time. I frequently visit schools and interact with staff and pupils...

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: First, it is incorrect to say I did not visit special classes. The fact of the matter is that I was in such classes. It is also incorrect to say I did not have discussions with-----

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Excuse me. I visited a special class..

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I certainly visited a special class and discussed with teachers who are mainstreaming pupils with mild general learning disabilities the success or otherwise of that procedure. It was Department of Education and Science policy for ten years from 1985 for special classes to be in place. In 2005, the general allocation model was brought into being. I emphasise to Deputy Hayes that...

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yet, we see the hypocritical nature of his Private Members' motion a week ago where the Deputy wanted me to restore all of the classes. Does he believe what he said three weeks ago in this House when I put a direct question to him about his juxtaposition?

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are three questions. First, I did not seek legal advice. The pupil-teacher ratio for mild general learning disability has been in place for ten years and is 11:1.

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: For the Deputy's information, we accept a ratio of 9:1. Can the Deputy accept from me that when we considered these classes, eight of them had no mild general learning disability pupil.

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am very concerned that other children with moderate learning disability or who are autistic get the proper supports. Perhaps it strikes the Deputy that some of those children with special needs may be in an appropriate classroom and may be in a class with a ratio of 5:1.

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: That is a fact of life. I am concerned that those children would get the appropriate supports. The Deputy's third question related to amalgamation.

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Out of the 128 classes, there have been approximately 40 appeals. I put in place an appeals system because I thought it was appropriate that the schools in question got such an opportunity. Those 40 appeals are now being heard. I thought I would have a decision by Friday of this week but five more appeals arrived in the past week and we want to ensure we process those and give them due...

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Is it not extraordinary that Deputy Hayes wanted to put back all of the 128 classes although only 40 appealed?

Special Educational Needs. (14 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I would hate to think what control mechanism would be in place if the Deputy was in charge of education. He and George Lee would have a real difficulty.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will forward to the Deputy the information that is available to my Department in relation to the issues he has raised.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within...