Results 3,861-3,880 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Departmental Expenditure. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: We meet regularly with the education partners and did so in the context of the last budget in terms of funding. We are in regular contact with them. The secretary general and senior officials from my Department liaise on a regular basis with the education partners. We are apprised of some of the issues. I have met with principal teacher organisations and have listened to their proposals....

Departmental Expenditure. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I made my position clear on a radio programme last week when I instanced that secretaries general within the various Departments had taken significant cuts in their salaries. I also indicated that people who held similar positions within the education sector should, perhaps, consider doing likewise.

Departmental Expenditure. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am not sure. The remit of the review group is to report to the Minister for Finance who will then present a report to Government. Obviously, I will be party to the submission brought before Cabinet.

School Curriculum. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Education Act 1998 sets out the legislative framework for the provision of education to all pupils. There is no specific reference in that Act to English language support. In my view, language support must be approached from the perspective not of legal imperative, but of enabling pupils for whom English is not the mother tongue to access the curriculum and participate fully in the...

School Curriculum. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: On the first question, the reduction in posts will be approximately 550. This will be achieved through a combination of lower levels of immigration and the capping of language support at a maximum of two extra teachers per school, with some alleviation for the position of those schools where there is a significant concentration of newcomer pupils as a proportion of the overall enrolment....

School Curriculum. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have assured the schools in question that they will be able to make a special case. It has been suggested that additional language teachers will be allocated to particular schools on the basis of nods and winks, etc. Before 2006, the number of language support teachers who could be allocated to each school was capped at two. I have made it clear I want to ensure that schools that have...

School Curriculum. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: We have put in place an independent appeals mechanism to ensure that appeals can be made if difficulties arise.

School Curriculum. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My intention, when dealing with the numbers of additional language support teachers that could be put in place, was to be open and transparent. I did not want to be accused of operating on the basis of nods and winks, or political interference. I was keen to put in place a clear benchmark for the appointment of additional language support teachers. That is what has been put in place....

School Curriculum. (25 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: We have gone beyond the remit of the original question. It is important for me to make clear, in case people think we are denuding schools of all language support teachers, that our schools will continue to avail of the services of approximately 1,400 language support teachers. Approximately 500 other teachers will be in part-time positions within the language support system. I can inform...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1010 and 1012 together. 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 1 March 2009 and is a member of a public service pension scheme, is entitled to a benefit under such a scheme or receives a payment in lieu of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1011 and 1029 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department operates a School Transport Scheme to provide transport to pupils attending the nearest available school which can provide an education suitable to their particular needs. The School Transport Scheme is administered by Bus Eireann on behalf of the Department. There is no Scheme currently...

Written Answers — Millennium Partnership Fund: Millennium Partnership Fund (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A review of the Millennium Partnership Fund was commissioned by the Higher Education Authority in 2005. The review concluded that while the fund has served an important function in supporting students from disadvantaged areas to attend further and higher education, it has significant potential to facilitate outreach and role modelling if further developed within a holistic strategy to combat...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the issue of the introduction of a form of student contribution as at present such persons, as referred to by the Deputy, would be eligible for free fees once they meet the criteria of the free fees schemes. As the Deputy is aware my Department, with the assistance of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), is at present conducting a review of policy...

Written Answers — Higher Education Sector: Higher Education Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1015 and 1016 together. The report of the OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland contained a series of recommendations related to the management and structure of the third level sector, as well as addressing wider policy and funding issues. The Government approved the broad thrust of the reform agenda outlined in the OECD report. The range of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. More recently, the Department was informed by the School's Board of Management that the community has secured a three acre greenfield site and have drawn up plans for a new permanent school building. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding in respect of the provision of ancillary accommodation for special education, from the school to which the Deputy refers. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time further education options for persons who wish to combine a return to learning with work, family or other commitments. It is funded by my Department and delivered through VECs and community groups. My Department also allocates funding to VECs for community education activities under the Community Education programme. It would...

Written Answers — State Claims Agency: State Claims Agency (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In relation to the case raised by the Deputy, I wish to advise the House in the first instance that the matter is being handled by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the State. Judgement has been reserved on the issue of costs which was heard on Monday 23rd February. From the State's perspective, it was necessary to have such a hearing as the person in question was seeking her costs...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the letter the Deputy refers to and my Department will be responding to the person in question in the near future.