Results 4,421-4,440 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am a busy man.
- Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am absolutely delighted to have this opportunity.
- Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: We have changed the curriculum for maths at primary level and it has been an outstanding success.
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a Common Application System (CAS) was agreed between the principals of the post-primary schools in Limerick City. This system has been facilitated through the Limerick Education Centre (LEC) with support from my Department. This administrative system ensures that a coordinated approach can be taken to enrolments in the area. My Department is aware of the call for...
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: It is a matter for each school's Board of Management to have an enrolment policy and to then operate that policy in a fair and consistent manner having regard to the overall physical capacity of a school. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a Board of Management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputies refer 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority â i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school building project to which he refers has been sanctioned to go to tender and construction. The school authority has been informed of this approval and it is currently engaged in the tendering process.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: An application for grant aid for major capital works was received from the school to which the Deputy refers on 1st May 2007. The current position is that planning permission for the new school was lodged on 23rd December 2008. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered on an...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced 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...
- Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: I do not consider the present arrangements to be unreasonable. Under the terms of my Department's student grant schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the prescribed conditions with regard to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Students are categorised according to their circumstances...
- Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: From 2007 to date in 2009 no artwork, paintings or sculptures have been lost or stolen from my Department. Five Mobile phones have been lost and two have been stolen. Three laptop computers owned by my Department have been stolen. Two laptops were stolen in 2007, one from my Department's offices in Marlborough Street and one from an Inspector's car. The third laptop was stolen during a...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has credit accounts with three taxi firms. The total amount spent on taxis with these firms in 2007 and 2008 is â¬30,184.37 and â¬26,996.34 respectively. Taxis used by my Department's officials are for strictly for business purposes and staff are required to ensure that every effort is made to minimise the use of taxis The Deputy will note that there was a 10% reduction in...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department uses external storage facilities to store non-current records and a limited stock of publications. The contract details and the costs involved in renting off site storage for my Department is a matter for the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), who act on behalf of my Department in relation to the rental of off-site storage. The figures shown below...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The progression of all large scale building projects, including the school to which the Deputy refers, 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 budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 258 primary schools with more than two language support teachers. The budget measures will mean that the level of language support will be reduced from a maximum of six extra teachers per school to a maximum of two teachers per school, as was the case before 2007. However, there will be some alleviation for the position of those schools where there is a significant...
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (5 Feb 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 issuing the results of examinations. In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
- Written Answers — In-Service Training: In-Service Training (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: Based on the October 2008 budget figures, the estimated provision for in service training for teachers in 2009 is â¬41.5m. This includes a range of supports across DEIS, Special Needs and Curricular areas.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority â i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Feb 2009)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Special Education Support Service provides continuing professional development for teachers in the education of all pupils with special educational needs. Post-graduate programmes of continuing professional development, funded by the Department of Education and Science in the colleges and universities also provide teachers with access to continuing professional development in the...