Results 7,221-7,240 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department's report on school retention, which was published on 31 March 2008, is based on a detailed analysis of the records held in the Post-Primary Pupils Database for the cohort of entrants to the first year of the junior cycle in 1999. The report is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/pp_retention_1999_repor t.pdf. It must be noted that the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A total of 521 teachers were awarded pension on retirement from secondary, community and comprehensive schools in 2006. The corresponding number of retirement awards in 2007 was 651. The overwhelming majority of these were wholetime teachers. My Department will write to the Deputy as soon as possible with the exact numbers of those retiring from wholetime positions.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently 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 will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — the Local Authority or VEC. If an individual applicant considers that she or he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she or he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC. If an individual...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department funded a major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy and its adjacent boy's school in 2005 at a cost in excess of €2.5 million. The school in question shares the same site as the boy's school and the building project was to provide additional classroom and ancillary accommodation as well as refurbishment of some existing accommodation. My Department does...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, a Developing Areas Unit has been established in the Department of Education and Science to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas including Balbriggan. The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas including Balbriggan, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assure the Deputy that I am aware of the recent survey conducted by the Irish Independent in conjunction with RTE on the issue of "cyber bullying", through the use of the internet and mobile phones. I share the Deputy's concern that any child would feel upset in school because of bullying — be it physical, verbal or what is being termed "cyber bullying". I assure him that supports are...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits my Department to establishing a Developing Areas Unit to identify where new schools are needed and to ensure that these schools are delivered in the fastest possible timeframe. The specific areas in Kildare being addressed by the Developing Areas Unit are Newbridge, Naas, Maynooth, Celbridge, Athy and Kill. The process of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, almost €600 million is being provided for school buildings this year to facilitate the completion of work on 67 large-scale primary schools projects that will deliver 7,000 additional permanent school places in new schools and 2,300 additional permanent school places in existing schools. It will also allow work to commence on 150 devolved projects under the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, a large number of schools in the Kildare area have made applications for Major Capital Funding. All applications received from schools in the Kildare area are assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Delivery of all building projects will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the 8 classrooms in question will be an expansion of an existing school and will be under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 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 is considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage (Stage 2b — Detailed Design and Bill of Quantities) of the architectural planning process. As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Naas. The main emphasis in 2008 is on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together. The projects to which the Deputy refers are at an advanced stage of architectural planning process. The progression of all large scale building projects, including these projects, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed project at the school to which the Deputy refers has had its design team appointed and the process of architectural planning has commenced. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its timetable and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that where...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 May 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 — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department received an application for emergency funding from the school in question. This application is under consideration and a decision will be reached shortly. The school authorities will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: There has been a particular focus in recent years on improving services for children with autism. In the past year alone, approximately 100 additional special classes for autistic children were set up, bringing the total number to almost 280. In addition, my Department has also, in consultation with educational interests, developed a model of general teacher allocation for pupils in the...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: To conclude, it is important not to lose sight of the wider picture of the range of improvements that have been made. Teacher numbers at primary level have increased significantly. Additional resources have been provided both within the classroom and also by way of additional supports in areas such as language support and special education. We will continue our focus on measures to improve...