Results 4,561-4,580 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Consideration is being given to the timing and resource requirements of a Learner Database to be introduced initially at Primary level and then rolled out to Second-level. It is intended to proceed, as soon as resources permit, with a live on-line system allowing for easy exchange of information that reflects the up-to-date situation in regard to enrolment at any one time and to cut down on...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Intensive training for boards of management took place in 2007 and 2008 including the new boards at primary level. The essential core areas that are covered in the training are Financial Management, Child Protection Guidelines, Health & Safety, Employment Law and Human Resource Management. Other areas that are covered in training include Background Information re: the Education System, Role...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1403 and 1405 together. The Government is committed to promoting appropriate levels of exercise for our children and young people — both in their communities and at school. In a new school building or refurbishment/extension, PE facilities are included as an intrinsic part of the design. A special PE funding package of €6.5 million issued in 2006 to...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second-level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered in the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department makes a specific allocation of teaching posts in respect of guidance to schools in the second level system. This allocation is based on the pupil enrolment in September of the preceding school year. As a result of the decision to allocate an additional 100 posts to guidance from September 2005 an enhanced guidance allocation provision has been put in place from the commencement...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I believe that schools have a role to play both in teaching students about road safety issues and in helping them to develop the attitudes necessary to promote safe behaviour on the roads. The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which is mandatory in primary schools and at junior cycle level, provides a framework under which the generic values and skills which underpin...

Written Answers — Stay Safe Programme: Stay Safe Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Continuing Professional Development to support the implementation of the Stay Safe programme is provided by the Child Abuse Prevention Programme (CAPP). Results of a survey on the uptake of Stay Safe carried out by CAPP and my Department in 2006 showed that at that time: 2,514 schools (84.19%) were providing the programme 472 (15.81%) were not providing the programme, and 263 schools (8.8%)...

Written Answers — Student Councils: Student Councils (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 27 of the Education Act, 1998 provides that Boards of Management in second level schools shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to Student Councils. Student Councils are established in the majority of post-primary schools. It is important not only to ensure that each school has a Student Council which is representative of all students in the school but also that Councils...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The NCCA proposals for reform envisaged re-structuring of senior cycle programmes into subjects, short courses and Transition Units, a strengthening of practical project and portfolio assessment, a spread of assessment events with subjects having two assessment components, and embedding of key skills into subjects. In response, the then Minister Mary Hanafin. T.D. welcomed the embedding of...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposals of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for reform of senior cycle envisaged a re-structuring of programmes into subjects, short courses and transition units. The Council proposed the development of Transition Units as 45 hour units of study which would provide a broad range of experiences for learners, incorporating innovative methodology and supporting the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (27 Jan 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. Schools have also received funding under the Summer Works Schemes 2004 -2007 to...

Written Answers — Special Education Support Scheme: Special Education Support Scheme (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), in collaboration with its counterparts in Northern Ireland, the Council for Curriculum Examination and Assessment, has produced draft guidelines for teachers of exceptionally able students. These guidelines issued to all Primary and Post Primary schools in November 2007 along with a questionnaire for feedback. The NCCA has sought...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently 225 schools/centres offering the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP), and the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is currently offered in some 380 schools/centres and taken by around 6% of students each year. The DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Action Plan for Educational Inclusion provides for extended access to the JCSP for second-level schools...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: With regard to the summer courses in Irish for primary school children in designated disadvantaged schools, these are referred to as Campaí Samhraidh. Children's command of Irish is improved through participation in a range of activities, including music, arts and crafts and games, conducted through the medium of Irish. The programmes are developed by teachers working to guidelines produced...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware the curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. The Framework sets out the types of learning...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department issued Circular 0138/2006 in December 2006 to primary schools requesting that they ensure that standardised testing is implemented on an annual basis for all pupils in English reading and Mathematics at the end of first class or the beginning of second class, and at the end of fourth class or the beginning of fifth class, beginning in the calendar year 2007. The introduction of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1420 and 1421 together. The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the NEWB as the National body with responsibility for school attendance. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The service has been developed incrementally, and, in April 2007, sanction...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1422, 1423 and 1435 together. As the Deputy will be aware, a significant number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004 have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that a key priority for the Government over the past decade has been to improve the provision of additional resources for all pupils, including those attending post-primary schools. My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them cater for pupils with special educational needs (SEN). Such supports include remedial and additional...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Jan 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. This obviously impacted on...