Results 6,821-6,840 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department has received an offer from the VEC regarding the matter. The acquisition of the site for the school in question will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. I am not in a position to say at this stage when the acquisition will be concluded.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of teachers with restricted recognition who are employed in primary schools is not readily available. An officer of my Department will contact the Deputy as soon as this data becomes available. Restricted recognition is granted to teachers who trained outside the State and who hold a recognised primary teacher qualification, and to teachers with certain approved Montessori...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of probated teachers in resource posts in primary schools or in special education schools is not readily available. Teachers who are granted restricted recognition to teach in primary schools in a resource post or in special educational schools must undergo a one-year probationary period in this State regardless of experience abroad. The probationary process will involve...

Written Answers — School Heating System: School Heating System (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: For the past nine years the Planning and Building Unit within my Department have been using a process called the DART approach to develop sustainability and energy efficiency in educational buildings. This acronym focuses on four key areas, namely; Design, Awareness, Research, and Technology. The policy is informed by the Building Unit Professional and Technical staff, driven by its...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question commenced operations with provisional recognition in September 2005. Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth of pupil numbers are monitored. Among the factors to be considered in order to grant permanent recognition is the long-term viability of the school,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for a new school building has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy and an assessment of the long term needs of the school has been concluded. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department provides for the education of children with special educational needs through the allocation of teachers and special care assistants; enhanced levels of funding for special schools and schools with special classes; the provision of assistive technology and/or specialist equipment, where needed; and the provision of special school transport arrangements. There are now over 19,000...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department has concluded negotiations with the owners of the building to which the Deputy refers and, unfortunately, due to competing demands on its capital budget, it is not in a position to purchase the premises at this time. The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for permanent recognition and this matter is being considered. A decision will issue as soon as...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for incremental credit was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 3rd May 2007 and a decision in the case was issued on the 15th August 2007. Some further queries that have arisen in relation to this application have been forwarded to the applicant and the application will be reviewed following receipt of the required information.

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464, 466, 502 and 507 together. ICT Advisor posts were provided as part of the ICT Advisory Service operated by the 21 full-time Education Centres around the country, to provide pedagogical advice and support and advice on ICT-related issues to schools and Education Centres. While employed by the individual Education Centres, my Department funded the posts...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the matter of local authority development charges is embodied in planning legislation, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In the circumstances, I have no power to instruct the Local Authorities in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Ethics in Public Office Act: Ethics in Public Office Act (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 to 477, inclusive, together. Gifts received by Ministers and Ministers of State from foreign dignitaries tend to be of a minor or symbolic nature, and the Department of Education and Science does not keep a record of such gifts, except where the gift exceeds a value of €650. Under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, any gift with a value in excess of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware from my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 748 on the 2nd of April 2008 that my Department is exploring as an option the provision of a new building on the existing temporary school site. The further progression of the acquisition of the site for the school in question will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 489 together. Due to the renegotiation of the existing lease between the Catholic Institute for the Deaf and the Department, the Department has confirmed to the school referred to by the Deputy, that they will be remaining in their current location for the academic year beginning September 2008. The Department has also recently informed the school in...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Commission on School Accommodation conducted a survey of school accommodation in the area referred to by the Deputy to determine the location of the proposed post primary school and to identify other locations where additional school places may be required over the next five to ten years. The Commission published its report in January 2008 which recommended that a co-educational post...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and I will write to him in the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The admission requirements for entry into third level colleges and the delineation of points for particular subjects are matters for decision by the colleges themselves. The Central Applications Office provides a processing service on behalf of the colleges, based on the parameters stipulated by the colleges for entry purposes. My predecessor is on record as favouring the provision of bonus...

Written Answers — An Luath-Thumoideachas: An Luath-Thumoideachas (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Táim feasach ar an dtaighde dá dtagraíonn an Teachta, taighde a thugann le fios go gcruthaíonn daltaí i nGaelscoileanna thar an meán i scrúduithe caighdeánaithe Béarla. Tugann staidéir náisiúnta sa réimse seo le fios chomh maith go mbíonn próifíl socheacnamaíoch níos airde ag mic léinn dá leithéid, agus go mbíonn suim níos mó ag a dtuismitheoirí san oideachas ná mar...

Written Answers — Cúrsaí Oiliúna: Cúrsaí Oiliúna (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Tá raon de mheicníochtaí ann ag leibhéal na réamhsheirbhíse d'fhonn tacú le cumas na múinteoirí chun Gaeilge a mhúineadh i mbunscoileanna. Tá Grád C ar a laghad ag Ardleibhéal sa Ghaeilge san Ardteistiméireacht riachtanach chun dul isteach in oiliúint do bhunmhúinteoirí in Éirinn. Déanann iarrthóirí ar an gCúrsa Dioplóma Iarchéime scrúdú béil mar chuid den...

Written Answers — Coláistí Oiliúna: Coláistí Oiliúna (1 Jul 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: B'fhéidir go mbeidh a fhios ag an Teachta go bhfuil ról reachtúil ag an gComhairle Múinteoireachta maidir le hathbhreithniú ar chaighdeáin atá de dhíth chun dul isteach i ngairm na múinteoireachta, lena n-áirítear caighdeáin an eolais, na scil agus an chumais atá de dhíth do chleachtas na múinteoireachta. Tá tús curtha ag an gComhairle lena cuid oibre ina leith seo agus...