Results 7,001-7,020 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The timeframe for the appointment of a conservation architect on a project can vary according to the complexity of the project in question, the information available to the Department and the school and the likely timeframe for the advancement of the project. My Department attempts to ensure that, where required, a conservation architect, along with all other consultants necessary for a...

Written Answers — Student Representation: Student Representation (17 Jun 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 — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 686, 687, 723 and 724 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to individual schools is not readily available and would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. However, my Department publishes annually statistical data at national level in relation to primary schools. The data is not disaggregated by school or any...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Approval of the Developed Sketch Scheme issued to the design team on the project in question on 23rd April 2008. The next stage, (Detailed Design), is due to be submitted to my Department in August of this year. The progression of this and all large capital building projects in my Department will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials in my Department have been in discussion with County Kilkenny VEC in relation to the schools within its remit in recent times. The V.E.C. has indicated the desirability of a new school building for the school in question in this forum. It has been explained to the V.E.C. that my Department is looking at the totality of educational provision in Kilkenny City particularly in the...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Over 75% of pupils are in classes of less than 30 pupils. Preliminary indications from my Department's analysis of statistical returns from schools for the current school year appear to indicate that there has been a drop in the numbers of pupils in classes of over 30 pupils. The analysis of all the returns from schools has yet to be completed and the final outcome will be published later...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at a very advanced stage. 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 on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Schools have flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and the Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups. The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second-level, mainly in the case of language subjects, decisions on which textbooks to use in first and second-level schools are taken at school level. Syllabus planners are conscious of the need to avoid over-frequent changes to textbooks, primarily in order to minimise increases in the cost burden for parents. However, textbooks have to be...

Written Answers — Student Support Services: Student Support Services (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that an official from my Department met with the parent of the child in question in the last week. The National Council for Special Education has advised that additional educational support services will be sanctioned to the post-primary school in question on the same basis as the primary school where the child is currently enrolled. The provision of health...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities in the matter in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. An approved course for the purposes of the Grants Schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may 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 (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. My officials have been in contact with the NCSE and I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the pupil in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children. The Council, with its network of up to 80 Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is providing a structure for the delivery of an effective and...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures. The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy has commenced. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Stage 2A submission for the school to which the Deputy refers has been recently received by my Department. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage, and requires a technical visit to progress matters. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school in question has applied for an extension/refurbishment project which is in early architectural planning. A revised schedule of overall accommodation was prepared based on a long term projected enrolment of 350 pupils. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Schedules of accommodation have been accepted by County Clare VEC for an extension project at Ennis Community College. The project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's...