Results 6,081-6,100 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and is currently awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. 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...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware I recently announced details of 25 major school building projects which are to proceed to tender and construction. The school in question is included on this list and officials form my Department will shortly be contacting the school about the next steps they should take.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. SENOs are assigned responsibility for schools in a particular geographical area. The local SENO is a specific...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. It is also a matter for school authorities to determine school policies, taking into account any health and safety risks to children running in the school yard. It is my view that it is important for...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Inspectorate conducts whole-school evaluations in primary and post-primary schools. During these evaluations, a range of subjects is examined, in addition to issues such as the quality of school management, school planning, teaching and learning, and supports for students. The evaluation of teaching and learning focuses on a range of subjects which may vary from school to school....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Socraítear soláthar foirne scoil náisiúnta trí thagairt do rollú na scoile ar 30ú Meán Fómhair na scoilbhliana roimhe sin. Socraítear líon iarbhír na bpost príomhshrutha ceadaithe trí thagairt do sceideal soláthar foirne a eisítear do gach aon bhunscoil gach bliain. De réir sonraí a chuir Bord Bainistíochta na scoile dá dtagraíonn an Teachta faoi bhráid mo Roinnese,...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Many primary schools have a multi-purpose room which can be used for the purposes referred to by the Deputy. With regard to outdoor seating, my Department's General Design Guidelines for Schools recommend that, in designing a new school, a variety of informal and social areas should be created to suit the learning development and cultural needs of pupils/students during breaks and before and...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá an tionscadal dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ag ardchéim pleanála ailtireachta faoi láthair. Tá cead pleanála faighte don tionscadal molta. Machnófar ar dhul chun cinn gach uile tionscadal tógála ar scála mór, an tionscadal seo ina measc, ón túschéim dearaidh go dtí an tógáil, i gcomhthéacs Chlár Tógala agus Athnuachain Scoile Ilbhliantúil mo Roinnse. I bhfianaise na...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The answer to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 21st May 2008 did contain an error. That answer informed the Deputy that the project referred to had "been assigned a band rating of 2.5 under the Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects. . .". This was incorrect and I apologise to the Deputy for this error. The project referred to does in fact carry a band rating of 1.1 in accordance...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is to provide a new 16 classroom school building and is at architectural planning. Officials from my Department have received a revised Stage 2A submission, i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme. The Department is currently reviewing the submission. The planning permission that has been granted is for the new temporary accommodation that must be put on the site...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468, 469, 470, 497 and 500 together. As of Thursday 2nd October, 2,279 teachers have been registered for probation in the 2008/2009 school year. Of the 2,279 teachers, data in respect of the institution from which they obtained their teaching qualification is available in respect of 2,256 cases. There are 1,787 graduates from 8 Irish Colleges which run...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of, and demand for primary teachers. The number of places on the Bachelor of Education and Post Graduate courses are detailed in the following table. B.Ed and Post-Graduate Student Intake 2000-2008 Year B.Ed Intake Post-Graduate Intake Increase 2000/2001...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary school network. The supports available at primary level include over 8,300 Special Needs Assistant posts supporting with children with special care needs, over 5,100...

Written Answers — School Inspectors: School Inspectors (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 1 September 2008 there were 110 primary and post-primary inspectors assigned to school evaluation activities including the conduct of whole-school evaluations. There were 59 primary inspectors and 51 post-primary inspectors. At primary level whole-school evaluations can be conducted by individual inspectors or by teams of up to 4 inspectors, depending on the size of the school. In...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are over 350 special classes for pupils with mild general learning difficulties in the primary school system. I will arrange for the number of enrolled children to be sent to the Deputy when it has been compiled. Pupils with a mild general learning disability who are not enrolled in a special class are entitled to additional teaching support in school under the terms of the general...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is in the following table. The details provided relate to teachers employed in Primary, Secondary and Community/ Comprehensive schools and paid on payrolls operated by my Department. Gender Breakdown Primary Teachers School Year Male Female % % 2008/09 15.88 84.12 2007/08 16.03 83.97 2006/07 15.68 84.32 2005/06 16.30 83.70 2004/05 17.10 82.90...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tógfaigh mé Ceisteanna 476 agus 477 le chéile. Oibríonn mo Roinnse roinnt scéimeanna scoláireachta tríú leibhéal. Tá critéir, riachtanais, agus cuspóirí éagsúla ag na scéimeanna seo agus dá réir sin is cuí go mbeadh téarmaí agus coinníollacha éagsúla ag baint le gach aon cheann acu. Tá sé i gceist athbhreithniú a dhéanamh i rith na bliana acadúla seo chugainn ar...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The application for the school referred to by the Deputy 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 current competing...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has surveyed almost 900 primary schools across the country regarding their use of rented prefabricated accommodation and is in the process of compiling this information. The information gathered will be used to produce a database of information on rented prefabricated accommodation which will be maintained on an ongoing basis and will inform my Department's future...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The make up and timing of further school bundles in my Department's PPP school building programme will be determined by my Department in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). The issues to be considered in the timing and bundling of these schools include site availability for each school, geographical spread and the estimated total cost of the proposed school...