Results 5,241-5,260 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (20 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The major project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all major building projects, including this project, 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...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: As I stated in my reply of 4 November last, a Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme is currently in operation for teachers. Circular Letter PEN 07/05 sets out the full conditions of the scheme. A teacher may apply for cost neutral early retirement by completing an application form, available from my Department, and returning it, through the teacher's school, to my Department.
- Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has approved the provision of a new 36-classroom school to cater for an amalgamation involving the school referred to by the Deputy. The amalgamation of the schools will take place on completion of the new school building which is to be built on a site provided by the parish. The project to provide the new school is in architectural planning and is currently at stage 2b...
- Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has approved the provision of a new 36-classroom school to cater for an amalgamation involving the school referred to by the Deputy. The amalgamation of the schools will take place on completion of the new school building which is to be built on a site provided by the parish. The project to provide the new school is in architectural planning and is currently at stage 2b...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 218, inclusive, together. My Department currently has 42 posts for Visiting Teachers of the Hearing and Visually Impaired (VTHVIs) nationally, 29 of which are assigned to support the education of approximately 2000 hearing impaired children and 13 in the case of approximately 1000 visually impaired children. The posts are assigned to caseloads of...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. Decisions were made in order to control expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long term. In this respect Education, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be entirely spared, and I acknowledge the impact of funding restrictions in a...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has received an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of...
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 225 and 235 together. The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking...
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is not involved in the allocation of school places. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. The Deputy...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: On 29th September this year I announced details of 25 major school building projects which are to proceed to tender and construction. The school building projects which I announced will provide permanent primary school places for over 4,600 students in five new schools and 15 extended and modernised schools. A further 3,600 students at post-primary level will benefit from one new school and...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of â¬302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. When the country was able to afford it the Government reduced the basis on which primary teachers are allocated to schools from being based on an average number of pupils per teacher from 35...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Details relating to annual payments to the school referred to by the Deputy for the rental of temporary accommodation over the past 10 years are set out in the following tabular statement. The temporary accommodation is required on the site to accommodate increased enrolments in the school pending the completion of a major building project for the school. The progression of this project will...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has approved a new 24 classroom school and ancillary accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. This project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process (detailed design). Progression of the project will be considered in the context of the Department's Multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that no anomaly exists. My Department sets out the criteria for allocating additional supports in schools which have enrolled children with special educational needs. The level of such support is determined by the assessed disability of the pupil(s) concerned in accordance with my Department's policy parameters. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: 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 (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. Specifically, the following sections have been commenced â 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c),...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works. The level of facilities to be provided in schools will vary depending on the brief of accommodation needed for the school. The standard size of a classroom being delivered for primary schools, whether through the generic repeat design (GRD) concept or traditional design, at primary...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Notwithstanding the increase of â¬302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included the decision to discontinue the annual funding of â¬97,000 that my Department made available to the Centre for Talented Youth (CTYI) at Dublin City University. While it...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: A request for funding for the conference has been received and is being examined at present. My officials will be in contact with the centre in question.
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Mullingar element of the decentralisation of my Department's Headquarters, which involves approximately 300 posts, will take place when new permanent accommodation is ready for occupation. Full planning permission for this development was received in July 2008. In June 2008, my Department utilised existing available accommodation in its Regional Office...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 Nov 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently over 5,800 learning support/resource teachers supporting children with special education needs at primary level. In addition, there are over 1,200 teachers in special schools as well as the many hundreds of teachers in special classes for children with different disabilities. As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system of learning...