Results 6,501-6,520 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 670, 671, 672 and 685 together. As the Deputy will be aware, a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) 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 needs. The...

Written Answers — Access to Higher Education: Access to Higher Education (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Over the seven years of the National Development Plan (NDP) €13 billion will be invested under the Human Capital Priority to develop the capacity of the higher education sector to meet a number of key national objectives, including that of increasing the numbers of students participating in the sector. The focus will continue from the previous NDP on measures targeting the increased...

Written Answers — Access to Higher Education: Access to Higher Education (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yesterday, I launched the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008-2013. The National Access Plan will seek to encourage the broadening of entry routes to higher education institutions to greater reflect the fundamental changes being brought about through implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications. In 2007, in consultation with stakeholders, the National...

Written Answers — Higher Education Infrastructure: Higher Education Infrastructure (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, an envelope of close to €2 billion has been provided for investment in higher education infrastructure. At the end of the first year of the programme, implementation of this measure is progressing satisfactorily with 2007 funding used to deliver additional capacity for apprentices in 4 institutes of technology as well as equipping institutes to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The commitment under the Programme for Government to appoint a further student representative to the HEA can be accommodated under existing legislation and will be considered when future vacancies arise. The HEA engages extensively with student interests as an integral part of its work. The USI plays an active role in this process and continues to ably represent its constituency. The...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher Education Section has provided for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs. Central to this is the "Special Education Support Service" (SESS). The Teacher Education Section of my Department established the Special Education Support Service (SESS) in September 2003. The service consolidates co-ordinates,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme 2006, a grant of €484,000 was sanctioned for the school in question to enable the Board of Management to extend and refurbish their school. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fund-raising needs. Rather the terms of the Scheme require the schools to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy indicates that the pupil enrolment figures on 30th September for the past three years and mainstream class teachers allocated are as follows: Year No. 2004 167 Staffing 2005/06 Principal + 5 Mainstream Class Teachers + 2 additional mainstream posts 2005 148 Staffing 2006/07 Principal + 5...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A total of 91 officers have been assigned to posts in my Department that have relocated under the programme of decentralisation. Of this number 16 officers had been assigned to the decentralised posts with which they relocated for a period of greater than 2 years prior to the relocation of the post. Seventy five (75) of the 91 officers transferred from other civil service posts in order to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are 25 specialist posts to be included in the decentralisation of my Department. None of these posts have been relocated to date. Nine (9) of the officers assigned to these posts at present will decentralise with their posts. Approximately 262 general administration posts at executive officer and higher are included in the decentralisation of my Department. Seventy nine (79) of these...

Written Answers — School Places: School Places (10 Jul 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 applications for the establishment of special classes. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) forms a mandatory part of curriculum provision in primary schools and in junior cycle. The overall aim is to help develop students' confidence and self esteem, and promote the skills for living, for responsible decision making, and for mental, physical and emotional health and well-being. The junior cycle syllabus for SPHE includes a specific...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is aware of the case referred to by the Deputy, where a student is in receipt of a scholarship and has applied for a maintenance grant. This matter is currently under active consideration by my Department. The student will be advised directly of the outcome of these considerations as soon as the matter concludes.

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: At the beginning of 1965 new rules entitled "Rules for National Schools under the Department of Education" were introduced by the Minister for Education with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. This version of the Rules for National Schools has subsequently been updated, amended and supplemented by circular letters. The Rules for National Schools, together with Department Circulars...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the general allocation model was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs. The review is currently underway and is expected to be completed early in the next school year. The issue of allocation...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The total number of administrative principal posts at primary level in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 school years were 981 and 1,043 respectively. The post of administrative deputy principal was introduced for the first time at primary level in the 2006/07 year and there were 23 appointments in that year. Data in respect of the current school year is currently being compiled by my Department and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department does not operate a debt relief scheme for schools. However a small number of schools have sought assistance as an exceptional matter to deal with serious financial difficulties. Between 2002 and 2006, additional financial assistance for this purpose was provided to a total of 97 schools, mainly serving disadvantaged areas. In 2002, 26 schools received approximately €341,000....

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There were seven new schools that looked for an advance of the capitation and ancillary services grants in 2007. All seven received half the capitation grant and their full ancillary services grant at that time. All new schools receive an ancillary services grant in October each year to cover the cost of employing a secretary and/or caretaker for the months from September to December, as the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the education sector, vetting is currently done in respect of newly appointed teachers via the initial registration process with the Teaching Council. It is also done for prospective employees for posts that involve working with children such as Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), bus drivers, bus escorts to children with special needs, caretakers and other ancillary staff. As the expansion...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The recruitment of teachers is managed at local level by individual school Boards of Management and Vocational Education Committees. According to my Department records at 30 June 2006, there were a total of 27,525 teachers at primary level and 27,055 whole time teacher equivalents at post primary level. The latest available data at 30 March, 2008 show corresponding figures for primary and...