Results 4,761-4,780 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Funding of €1 million has been approved from the Dormant Accounts Educational Disadvantage Programme for a scheme to assist 100 disadvantaged schools to progress towards achieving Digital School Status. The Digital Schools Award is an initiative which recognises excellence in a school's approach to integrating information and communications technology in its learning and teaching. Having...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Circular Letter 110/2008 which outlines the revised arrangements for substitute cover in post primary schools has issued to the managerial authorities of the schools and teacher unions. The Circular Letter has also issued to the Vocational Education Committees. Arrangements are being made to have the Circular Letter placed on my Department's website as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy refers to a number of fee-charging schools of which there are 56 in the State; 21 are Protestant, two inter-denominational, one Jewish and the remainder Catholic. With the exception of the Protestant and Jewish fee-charging schools, fee-charging schools do not receive capitation grants or related supports. Protestant fee-charging schools receive, and will continue to receive,...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Three forms for the person referred to by the Deputy were completed by officials in my Department and returned to the Department of Social and Family Affairs on the 14th October 2008. On 2 December 2008, two further forms for the person were received in my Department. The forms will be completed and returned to the Department of Social and Family Affairs in the next few days.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issue referred to by the Deputy was raised by the Docklands Authority at a meeting between my officials and the Authority recently. My officials will be in contact with the school authorities to ascertain their view on the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 400 together. SPHE was introduced into all schools, at Junior Cycle level, on a phased basis from September 2000 and has been a part of the Junior Cycle Curriculum since 2003. It builds on the various Life Skills, Health Education and Pastoral Care programmes already on offer in many Post Primary schools. The aims of the SPHE are to enable the...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Substance Misuse Prevention Programme (Walk Tall) Support Service is available to all primary and special schools in all Local Drugs Task Force Areas and has also been offered to DEIS schools. The role of this Support Service is to support teachers in these schools to implement the Walk Tall Programme in the context of the SPHE curriculum. Support is also offered to these schools to...

Written Answers — Language Schools: Language Schools (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: At present, the English language sector is regulated on a voluntary basis by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS), a company limited by guarantee which operates under the aegis of my Department. It provides a voluntary quality assurance and inspection scheme for private sector English language schools. ACELS also approves teacher training qualifications for the EFL...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The supervision and substitution scheme is available to all primary and second level schools funded by my Department. Permanent, temporary and part-time teachers employed in the school may volunteer at the commencement of the school year for supervision and substitution duties over the course of the year. Wholetime volunteer teachers are required to contract to deliver a minimum of 37 hours...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's office accommodation is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for which the Department does not pay rent or lease. The following lists give the location of these offices. I understand that the Deputy has been provided with information regarding all properties leased by the OPW. This information includes property leased by the OPW for my Department. List of...

Written Answers — Whole School Evaluations: Whole School Evaluations (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Whole-school evaluation (WSE) is a model of external evaluation for primary and post-primary schools that was introduced during the school year 2003/2004. Whole-school evaluation is designed to encourage a culture of improvement and an emphasis of the quality of provision in schools. It does so by providing an external perspective on the quality of the key aspects of the school's work...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is 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...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (18 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. It is a matter for the school to employ teachers up to the limit of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Dec 2008)

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, the education sector, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were...

Written Answers — Caiteachas Ranna: Caiteachas Ranna (17 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Aithním an ról tábhachtach atá ag na coláistí samhraidh Gaeltachta i saol na Gaeilge agus molaim obair na gcoláistí as ucht líofacht a chothú i measc na mac léinn a dhéanann freastal orthu. Is ábhar dóchais é go leanann líon suntasach mac léinn orthu ag freastal ar na coláistí seo sa Ghaeltacht. Aithním chomh maith go mbíonn tionchar nach beag ag na coláistí ar...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required and the discontinuation of such...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 597, 598 and 611 together. I recognise the important role of the Gaeltacht summer colleges and I commend the work of the colleges for fostering fluency among the students who attend them. It is encouraging that a significant number of students continue to attend these colleges in the Gaeltacht. I recognise also that the colleges have a considerable influence...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Dec 2008)

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, the education sector, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Dec 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question is seeking funding over and above that sanctioned by the Department for the installation of prefabs. The issue is under consideration in the Department and it will be in contact with the school authority shortly in relation to this matter.