Results 6,041-6,060 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I was holding my breath for a minute.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is a new dedicated line for each Member of the Oireachtas and each was informed about it in writing in recent weeks. One can ring an individual directly who will deal with the problem. That is a new initiative.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Opposition got it as well.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I thank Senators Healy Eames, McFadden, O'Toole, Ormonde, Keaveney and Ryan for their contributions which were positive, though sometimes erratic. If one looks at the allocations in the Department of Education and Science since 1997, it can be seen that this year alone, €9.3 billion was the education budget, which is unbelievable. The...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: That is not an up-to-date document. Progress in recent years has seen the primary school capitation grant increased from €95.87 per pupil in 2001 to its current rate of €178.58. That represents an increase of 86% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 2001. That compares to a cumulative increase of 30% in the consumer price index between 2001 and the end of 2007. The value of...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I should also point out that enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid in respect of children with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. The current rates range from €457 to €880 per pupil — an average increase of about 42% on the rate payable in 2006. By any standards that is a significant improvement within a...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: If the Houses seeks a comparison, it should compare this with what we inherited in 1997.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: At that time, only 30 large-scale primary school projects were underway.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: On top of that I have indicated to the construction sector——

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——that I am looking for it to propose schemes where it builds schools and we lease them back. I intend to put in place a pilot project.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Anybody who criticises the members of my building unit needs to have his or her head examined. It comprises an outstanding group of people, totally committed to their work who have produced outstandingly in recent years and I take great pride in the work they do and for which I commend them. I have put in place, to facilitate the Members of the Houses, a dedicated telephone line in the...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since its introduction in 2004 the summer works scheme has been a key component of the programme of funding maintenance and smaller scale capital works in schools. More than 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed under the scheme since 2004. With such a large number of projects completed in the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 was on providing...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The summer works scheme has been a significant success and has resulted in a substantial programme of improvement works to schools at primary level throughout the country. I am also examining the possibility——

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am introducing a new summer works scheme for 2009. It will be open to schools to make an application.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Applications submitted since 2008 which were not dealt with in that year will be considered——

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——as part of the 2009 remit to facilitate applicants who have gone to the expense of producing reports.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have outlined the large amount of expenditure on major capital works and the summer works scheme in schools. However, all primary schools get an annual minor works grant which can be used at their discretion to carry out small-scale works. This grant has been paid in each school year since its introduction in 1996 and 1997. In November 2006, the Government increased funding for the minor...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since then, the Government has invested some €200 million under the programme. This investment has resulted in pupil to computer ratios of one computer to every nine primary school children and one computer to every seven post-primary students in 2005, when the latest census was undertaken.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: All schools were invited to apply for networking grants and more than €23 million has been provided to schools since 2004 to upgrade their networking capabilities.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Schools have been given broadband connectivity under the schools broadband access programme, which my Department has implemented with the support of the Telecommunications and Internet Federation. The National Centre for Technology in Education has provided a programme of continuing professional development for teachers, with more than 144,000 training places having been availed of by...