Results 7,121-7,140 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. Data submitted to the Department by the Boards of Management of the schools in question indicate...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application for Emergency Funding for roof works from the school in question. Emergency works grants are made available to schools most in need of resources as a result of unforeseen emergencies of a capital nature that may arise during the school year. Following assessment of the application from this school and in light of the large number of projects seeking...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently approved grant-aid for furniture for the school in question.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers,...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The SESS provides a dedicated support team of expert teachers delivering a range of supports to schools through seminar delivery and individual school visits. In 2007, 5521 training places were funded by the SESS to enable teachers access a range of autism training. This training encompassed a variety of interventions and courses in the area of Autism including inter alia: Applied Behaviour...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will be required in order to determine the long term projected enrolment figure on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. Once the...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the funding pressures on schools generally including also those in relation to the setting up of new schools. It is a key priority for Government to improve funding for the day-to-day running costs of schools to help address these funding pressures. Specific commitments in relation to improving school funding form a central part of the education provisions of the Programme for...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. Posts allocated on the basis of this staffing schedule are specifically for mainstream classes...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. SENOs also make recommendations where assistive technology is required. I can confirm that an application for a...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The 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. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Council for Special Education 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. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers,...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Class size data for primary schools for 2007/2008 are currently being compiled by my Department and is not yet available. The source of this data is the Annual Census of Primary Schools. Data will become available when returns for all schools have been processed. The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, special schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am aware of the funding pressures on schools generally including also those in relation to the setting up of new schools. It is a key priority for Government to improve funding for the day-to-day running costs of schools to help address these funding pressures. Specific commitments in relation to improving school funding form a central part of the education provisions of the Programme for...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The legalities of finalising the site acquisition at Blacklion are at an advanced stage. It is the intention of my Department to provide accommodation for the school on the site in Blacklion for September 2008.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A tender report for the project referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department. The contract for the project has not yet been awarded. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (4 Jun 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he...