Results 5,721-5,740 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: However, I am not going to pretend this amount is sufficient to maintain the current level of service in all respects. It is the best we could do in the circumstances.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: On budget day I made clear that a number of difficult decisions would have to be taken to enable us to work within the level of resources available for education in the coming year.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I took no joy in making those decisions. They would not have been taken if we were not facing such ominous financial circumstances.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: As I have stated previously, approximately 80% of my Department's current funding goes on the salaries of staff working in the education sector, including teachers, special needs assistants and lecturers.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: In 2009, taking account of the measures announced in the budget, the net pay bill for teachers' salaries and pensions will increase by almost â¬300 million as a result of a combination of pay increases, increasing pension costs and the full-year costs of the salaries of extra teachers appointed this September. My current allocation provides for increased enrolments in primary schools and...
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Jack Lynch was a great hurler. But Deputy Quinn, who this morning refused to say where he would make the savings he proposes, is the most skilful hurler on the ditch I have ever encountered.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: A particular challenge is that the education sector is continuing to grow.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: An extra 14,000 pupils entered our primary schools in September and a further 11,000 pupils are expected in September 2009. An additional 3,000 pupils are expected at post-primary level in September 2009. Meeting this growing demand at a time of severe public spending constraints meant that some hard choices had to be faced.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The specific measures I have had to take with regard to the staffing scheduleââ
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: ââand substitution cover have to be seen in this light.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: We had to take a measured and balanced view of what was reasonable in the circumstances.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I have listened to the hysterical claims about changes to the basic staffing schedules for primary and indeed most post-primary schools. This is scaremongering of the highest order.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Are the Opposition Members and the teachers' unions honestly saying to the publicââ
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: ââthat the primary school system will be in crisis next year because we are proposing to allocate mainstream classroom teachers to schools on the same basis as in the 2006-07 school year?
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: This is a measured adjustment. It is not credible to make such outlandish statements about its impact.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: I can understand the disappointment of the INTO that this measureââ
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: ââruns counter to one of its major objectives of having its members work in smaller classes.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Is it seriously being claimed that from September 2006 to June 2007 we were sacrificing the future of the nation's children because of the way primary schools were staffed at that point?
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: The statements made in this House and elsewhere by members of the Opposition are ill-informed and disingenuous. The Opposition is being opportunistic in stirring up unnecessary anxiety for thousands of families around the country. It should stop now.
- Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)
Batt O'Keeffe: Turning to the post-primary system, we are being asked to believe that the end of the world is nigh?