Results 3,661-3,680 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 374 together. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Parliamentary Question to which the Deputy refers relates to the number of retired officials and inspectors from my Department who have been appointed to various boards in which my Department can make such appointments, and the number of appointments made in each year over the past five years. A reply to the Parliamentary Question issued to Deputy Shortall on the 26th March 2009. The...

Written Answers — University Status: University Status (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The establishment of additional universities is governed by Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997, which states that the Government may, at any time, appoint a body, the membership of which shall be recommended by An tÚdarás (the Higher Education Authority) and shall include international experts and national experts, including employees of universities to which this Act applies, to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 390 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. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The cost of substitution for teachers undertaking work associated with the state examinations during term time claimed for the 2007/2008 school year was 1.23 million euros. This information relates to the costs incurred for secondary and community/ comprehensive schools only and the data is obtained from claims submitted to my Department by the managerial authorities of those schools. The...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers is operating with provisional recognition from my Department. It is entitled to grant aid for rental for its accommodation, for school transport and for the payment of teacher salaries. Teacher allocations to all second-level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The scheme of performance related awards in the Civil Service applies to the grades of Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. Decisions on awards for officials that come within the remit of the scheme are made by the Committee for Performance Awards. Its membership comprises of the Secretary General to the Government, The Secretary General, Public Service Management &...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise 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. These special classes which are to close predate the 2005 General...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have asked my Department to contact the Deputy directly to discuss the information sought. Since the introduction of the General Allocation Model in primary schools there has been significant experience of beneficial mainstreaming of children with mild general learning disability in primary schools. My Department has asked the National Council for Special Education to advise on the role of...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Any retrospective arrears payable to part-time teachers are subject to the income levy in accordance with the personal taxation regulations applicable at the time of payment. The pension related deduction is applied to all income earned by part-time teachers after the 1st March 2009 who are members of a public service pension scheme. Therefore, any retrospective arrears payable prior to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra teachers in the primary sector alone since 2002. The overall policy goal is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population, the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 393 together. I have received correspondence on this issue in recent days, and I am prepared to meet a deputation of relevant interests to discuss the matter. However diary commitments do not allow for a meeting in the coming weeks, and officials of my Department will be in touch with the correspondents to arrange a meeting as soon as possible,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The post primary school project referred to by the Deputy is included in the list of seven schools which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This Bundle is in the pre procurement stage and my Department has completed a round of stakeholders' meetings in each of the locations where PPP schools are to be provided. A...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications submitted for the Summer Works Scheme 2008, including one from the school in question, are currently being assessed for summer 2009 and the school authority will be notified of the outcome of this assessment in due course.

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination and the remuneration of examiners and superintendents. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination, and the remuneration of examiners and superintendents. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I was appointed Minister for Education and Science on 7 May 2008 and will answer the Deputy's question from that date. The cost of my mobile telephony services from 7 May 2008 to 28 February 2009 (the latest date for which figures are available) and the amount expended on PDA Services for the same period are set out in tabular form. I have an arrangement in place to pay for my personal calls...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with a disability. Applications are considered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) where a pupil has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school referred to by the Deputy is a recognised primary school and attracts funding in the same way as all recognised primary schools. The Deputy will be aware that schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants have been increased substantially in recent years. The Education Budget for 2009 has provided for improvements to the overall level...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are a number of different arrangements under which teachers may retire early on pension. Teachers who are not new entrants as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 may retire voluntarily from age 55 years onwards. Where the teacher is aged 55 but under 60 he or she must satisfy the following conditions: have completed at least 35 years...