Results 7,241-7,260 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It was 30 pupils short of the required complement.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: recognises the major improvements that have been made to staffing levels in primary schools over recent years, including: over 2,000 extra teachers being provided in primary schools for 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years; the increase in primary teacher numbers since 2002 of over 6,000 bringing the...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am glad to set out for the House my commitment and that of the Government to the provision of teaching resources to primary schools. This is being done as part of our overall investment in education which has increased significantly in recent years by more than 70% since 2002 to more than €9.3 billion this year. This represents a significant increase of more than €690 million, or 8%,...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: While the schedule allocates on the basis of an average, each individual school decides how to arrange its classes. This means that two different schools with the same enrolment and allocated the same number of teachers may choose to configure their classes differently. Depending on a school's own circumstances one school may aim for an even distribution across all class groups while...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Preliminary indications from my Department's analysis of statistical returns from schools for the current school year appear to indicate a drop in the numbers of pupils in classes of more than 30 pupils.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The analysis of all the returns from schools has yet to be completed and the final outcome will be published later in the summer. Of course it is the case that some schools can have class sizes of greater than 27 but, as I pointed out, this is often because of a local decision by a school to use its teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: When a particular school has a class of more than 30 in a particular grade, it is often because another class in the same school has approximately 20 pupils.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I appreciate that an even distribution and splitting classes may not always be an option for a particular school because it might have a large group in junior infants and a small group in sixth class, but where it is possible, principals should consider the benefits of having smaller multi-grade classes as against having particularly large differences in class sizes at different levels in the...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I respected every speaker on the other side of the House. I did not interrupt and I seek the same respect. We in this House are aware that the mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. In any year, not just this year, when enrolments are falling in a school this can result in the loss of a...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: If I were to change the staffing schedule to allow the schools due to lose a teacher to retain that teaching post, I would be treating them differently from other schools with the exact same number on the rolls and I do not propose to do that.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: We can validly have a debate on changes that might be made to the overall schedule but I will not enter into the space of political opportunism portrayed by the Opposition by trying to give preferential treatment to some schools for no objective reason.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have a responsibility to ensure that, whatever the overall allocation, the system for allocating teachers to schools is transparent and fair and that everyone knows where he or she stands and each school knows that it will be allocated the same number of mainstream class teachers as the school up the road with a similar enrolment.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The system should not create anomalies or operate on the basis that one or more schools should be treated differently from others because the Opposition thinks political capital can be made.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Any school that believes it is treated unfairly under the schedule has access to an appeals process. The board of management of a school can submit an appeal under certain criteria to this independent appeals board, which was established specifically to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputies will appreciate that the appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have taken time to elaborate on how the staffing schedule operates because I am concerned that anyone picking individual cases in isolation and out of context could cause unnecessary concern. Budget 2008 provided my Department with €4.6 billion or an additional €380 million for teacher pay and pensions. This was a substantial additional investment, given the economic environment on...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It covers the additional teachers that went into schools last September for the previously announced reduction to a 27:1 based staffing schedule with additional teachers this school year and in the coming school year to meet increasing enrolments, provide for special needs and meet the language requirements of newcomer children.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am sure the House will agree that it was appropriate to continue to prioritise resources for those with special needs and the language requirements of newcomer children——

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——and to meet increasing enrolments generally as well as the needs of rapidly developing areas by providing additional school places. In making choices within available resources, these were the correct choices to make in terms of our priorities. However, in terms of the overall commitment to provide at least 4,000 additional teachers over the five-year life of the programme for...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (27 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: All programme for Government commitments to improve public services, including those relating to class size, are contingent on the economic and budgetary environment and the need for prudent expenditure and fiscal management. Even since the presentation of budget 2008 last December, the external and domestic environment has altered significantly.