Results 3,901-3,920 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take questions Nos. 1057 and 1085 together. I can confirm that my Department recently received correspondence relating to the matter referred to by the Deputies. A response will issue as soon as the matter has been considered fully.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April of last year from the school referred to by the Deputy. This was the first such application from the school. The school, which has a current enrolment of 49 pupils, is situated in a rural area. On foot of this application and information supplied by the school regarding its condition,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There were 40 major school projects for which design teams were appointed in 2006 to commence architectural planning. A further 14 design teams were appointed on major projects in 2007 and another 2 design teams were appointed in 2008. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department, in accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government established a Developing Areas Unit to identify...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The following table lists the record number of major projects which were progressed to practical completion in 2008. The list includes 48 new primary schools and 3 new post-primary schools, together with 29 major primary school extension/refurbishment projects and 15 major post-primary extension/refurbishment projects. It also shows the enrolment in each school for the 2008/2009 school year....

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The Deputy will be aware that on 12 February, 2009, I announced details of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project for the school in question was not included in this announcement. Therefore, it will not be proceeding this year....

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: An official from the Building Unit of my Department was in contact with the school authorities recently regarding this matter. The school will submit an application for emergency funding for the refurbishment works in question in the near future. When this application is received it will be assessed without delay and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the multi-annual school building programme, the Government has invested heavily in the modernisation of school facilities throughout the country including science facilities in post-primary schools. Provision of science facilities is an intrinsic part of all major projects at post-primary level. Typically this investment involves the provision of modern science facilities in new...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: A grant is paid to schools in respect of the employment of part-time teachers in the Primary sector and the Boards of Management of the schools pay the individual teachers. The rate of payment includes holiday pay. From September 2009 all part-time primary resource teachers will be paid through my Department's payroll. Any arrears that are due to part-time resource teachers will be paid by...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 pre-date the 2005 General Allocation Model of allocating...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the general allocation model was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs including children with mild general learning disabilities. The allocation system under the general allocation model was...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 pre-date the 2005 General Allocation Model of allocating...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There are no individuals within an agency or body under the aegis of my Department who are in receipt of fixed car allowances.

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy raises an issue concerning death-in-service benefits for a teacher who is a single parent. On production of probate or letters of administration, a death gratuity is payable to the teacher's personal representative (ie the executor named in the will or the administrator where a person dies without a will). It is the greater of one year's pensionable remuneration (at the rate...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department does not distinguish between children of tax exiles and others in terms of entitlement to primary or post primary education. Statistics in relation to the numbers of pupils enrolled in our primary and post primary schools are published annually by my Department. However, the statistical data collected and published does not provide the information requested by the Deputy.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I have consistently said that the 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials from my Department have been in contact with to school to which the Deputy refers to invite the chairperson of the board of management, the Principal and representatives of the design team to a briefing to be held on Thursday 26th March 2009 on the next steps in progressing the project.

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I have consistently said that the 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure could not be totally spared. The various impacts at...

Written Answers — Teaching Council Act 2001: Teaching Council Act 2001 (24 Mar 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, Part 5 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 sets out the Council's investigating and disciplinary functions. The Council or any person may apply to the Investigating Committee for an inquiry into the fitness to teach of a registered teacher where: The teacher has failed to comply with or has contravened the Teaching Council Act, 2001, the Education Act, 1998, the...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. More detailed...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I will arrange to have a list forwarded to you of all schools where annual rental payments in respect of prefabricated accommodation exceed €100,000.