Results 4,141-4,160 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Feb 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. At the time of the budget I...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the closing date for receipt of tenders for the construction of a school at Kill, Co Kildare, is the 9th March, 2009. It is expected that, subject to the necessary technical and financial approvals, this project will proceed to construction in the second quarter of 2009.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware on 12 February, 2009 I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction during 2009. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a building project to provide the school to which he refers with a new 16 classroom school is included in this announcement.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he 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 School Building and Modernisation Programme....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project is currently in construction and is due to reach completion later this year.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 222 and 227 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been no change in the criteria which governs the appointment of additional resource/learning support teachers and special needs assistants. The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, can have access to an education...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225, 226 and 228 together. 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...

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: No pupil with a special educational need 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 additional teacher...

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: If parents are being terrorised, it is on the basis of the misinformation disseminated. The first report stated that 900 pupils were involved. I want now to deal with the Deputy's question, which is important. One must first take into account the manner in which we have dealt down through the years with general mild learning disability. Special classes were established in 1989. In 2005,...

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There were five or fewer children in half of the classes.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The answer is that these children will be integrated into mainstream classes. Where there are two special classes on the same campus and the school can demonstrate a particular——

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——educational advantage in that regard I will consider amalgamating those classes.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Equally, I could read out to the Deputy a letter from a parent whose child was removed from a special class and mainstreamed and who is thankful to everybody for the great strides made by that child within mainstreaming.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Hayes must make up his mind what policy to pursue. Does he pursue a policy of integration which psychologically, socially and emotionally is better for the child?

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My apologies, it is mine. Deputy Hayes must make up his mind whether he agrees with the UN convention in terms of integrating children into mainstream classes and providing them with support——

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Hayes cannot have it both ways. He cannot continue to issue press releases that this will damage children.

Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is in the best interests of children to mainstream them and to give them the supports they need. That is what we are doing in mainstream classes in 3,000 schools.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The primary consideration of the Government in establishing the redress scheme was to provide justice for people who had been abused in childhood while resident in institutions which operated under the supervision of the State. The Government's decision to establish the redress scheme was made regardless of whether the religious congregations which managed the institutions would contribute...

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are two questions and one relates to indemnity. The Deputy is aware that all but two of the properties are in public ownership. There are two cases in which there are legal difficulties and there may need to be a cash transaction.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. (26 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is related to the various trusts.