Results 4,541-4,560 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Teaching Council has had responsibility for registering teachers since its establishment on 28 March, 2006. My Department does not have any involvement in this process. I have made enquiries regarding this case with the Teaching Council and have been informed that there is still information outstanding which is needed before the application can be progressed. This information is...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers commenced operation in September 2002 with provisional recognition from my Department on the basis that it would be providing multi-denominational education in the Clontarf/Marino/Fairview area of Dublin. At the time, the Department accepted the argument made by the proposers of the school that there was a need for a separate multi-denominational...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is my Department's intention to provide a new green field site building for the school to which the Deputy refers. The project is currently in the advanced stages of architectural planning. Progress on the new school 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 my...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher numbers at primary level have increased significantly in recent years and by almost 2,400 since June 2007 levels when this Government took office. 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...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The particular programme for Government commitment referred to by the Deputy would require additional teaching posts in second level schools and therefore cannot be considered until the public finances are stabilised, economic recovery is underway and tax revenues improve.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy may be aware that the Teaching Council has a statutory role in relation to the review of standards required for entry into the teaching profession, including the standards of knowledge, skill and competence required for the practice of teaching. The Council has begun its work in relation to this review and will produce a Strategy for the Review and Accreditation of Programmes of...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: This Government's continued prioritisation of education is evidenced from our investment in 2009 of €9.6 billion — over treble what it was in 1997. The increase of €302m in the Education budget for 2009 is therefore a real achievement in the current economic climate. Education is one of only three Government Departments to have increased funding in 2009. The budget for education is...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 funding arrangements made by my Department for...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am very much aware of the cost pressures on schools, including those arising from waste charges and the changes in relation to water charges. With regard to waste charges, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to examine the feasibility of introducing waste allowances for schools. The progression of this commitment is primarily a matter for my colleague — the Minister for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware the programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit to liaise with local authorities, identify where new schools are needed and ensure that they are delivered in the fastest possible timeframe. This Unit was established early in 2008. This fast-track approach to the provision of school buildings delivered 26 major building...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The programme for Government sets out a number of measures in relation to school provision including improving arrangements for the planning for new schools. Together with my colleague Minister Gormley, a Code of Practice on the Provision of Schools and the planning system was published in July 2008. This sets out a series of agreed actions between my Department and the planning authorities...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Professional and Technical staff in my Department regularly reviews and updates the design of school buildings. A suite of technical guidance documents is available on my Department's website to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of projects and to encourage the design team to take a complete design team approach from project conception. My Department has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to energy efficiency in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both national and international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. The Department's Technical Guidance Documents which set the benchmark for low energy design in schools are clearly focused on energy...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The primary responsibility of my Department in this area is the provision of school facilities for the effective delivery of the curriculum. In addition, school authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy in relation to how their premises are managed and utilised at local level. However, the Government recognises that there is a lack of recreational facilities for community use in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware the programme for Government commits my Department to abolish the local contribution to building projects and to the rental of accommodation. This matter is currently under consideration in my Department.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In November 2006 the funding for the minor works grant was increased by 44% on the previous year. Around €27m was paid out that year and a similar amount for the 2007/8 and 2008/9 school years to primary schools throughout the country to enable thousands of small scale works to be completed without the need to interact with my Department. Individual primary schools received a grant in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the programme for Government commits my Department to ensuring that where the State builds a new school on land which it owns, the building will be in the ownership of the Department of Education. Those sites that are acquired by my Department for the purposes of providing permanent accommodation for schools are generally green-field sites and the school buildings...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am conscious of the workload issues affecting Principal teachers and am aware of the key role they play in determining the shape of our schools. The scheme of release time for principals enables teaching principals of primary schools to be released from their teaching duties for a specified number of days annually to undertake administrative leadership and management functions. The number...

Written Answers — Leadership Development for Schools Programme: Leadership Development for Schools Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since 2003 the Leadership Development for Schools Programme (LDS) has expanded the range of supports and services that it offers to school leaders and over 9000 teachers from principals to middle managers have successfully completed LDS module programmes such as Misneach, Spreagagh, Forbairt, Tánaiste, Cumasú and Cothú. This investment has now led us to a point where there are structured...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Discussions in relation to the revised responsibilities of middle management in schools are continuing under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council, which is the agreed forum for dealing with the pay and conditions of service of Teachers. The Parties to the forum include representatives of the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and the Departments of Education &...