Results 1,221-1,240 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Millennium Partnership Fund: Millennium Partnership Fund (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will recall that measures had to be taken in the budget to safeguard the future payment of income supports in the welfare system by reducing the levels of payments. Similarly, the withdrawal of the Millennium Partnership Fund was considered necessary to ensure that the system is not extended beyond what current resources will allow. The Millennium Partnership Fund, introduced by...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is committed 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. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local special educational needs organisers,...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the allocation for 2010 for the special education initiatives subhead reflects the level of expenditure expected under the various initiatives during 2010. The provisional outturn details that the total spend in 2009 on the various initiatives concerned was less than â¬12 million. The allocation for 2010 exceeds â¬12 million.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jan 2010)
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, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The council operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied to...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The total allocation at the beginning of 2009 for capital expenditure in the primary and post-primary sectors, including the allocation available for ICT provision in schools, amounted to almost â¬624 million. The total capital allocation available for schools in 2010 is almost â¬629 million, including the carry forward from 2009. The capital expenditure outturn in the primary sector for...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme funds tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also provides funding for early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism where a...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Pupil-Teacher Ratio in respect of all primary schools is only available at national level - it is not disaggregated by county or by any other variable. Information on pupil-teacher ratios is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The data for the current school year (2009-10) are being compiled by my Department. The final outcome will be available later in the year. The...
- Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Provisions in relation to school closures are set out in my Department's circulars; 11/95 (for primary schools) and M29/95 (for post-primary schools). In accordance with these circulars, decisions on the need for and duration of exceptional closures rest with individual school authorities. The circulars provide that, in general, a school closure due to unforeseen circumstances should be...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers, is carrying out a review of Special Needs Assistant allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts, as outlined in my Department's circular 07/02, are properly met. This is an exercise in...
- School Management. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: In the normal course there is no requirement for schools to either notify my Department in advance of a decision to close or to subsequently report to my Department on each individual decision taken by a school to close, whether this arises from adverse weather, failure of heating or water systems, or as a result of a bereavement within the school community. Consequently my Department does...
- School Management. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Is Deputy Brian Hayes saying to me that I should be micro-managing every school, that I should be aware of what is the lesson content? I have far more regard for the professionalism, integrity and commitment of principal teachers and school teachers than the Deputy has. My Department officials have met with the relevant management authorities. They have discussed this issue with them. The...
- School Management. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am glad the Deputy asked me that question.
- School Management. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The report came back from the central committee and the indication from that committee - from a senior official in my Department whom I respect very much - was that the weather forecast for that weekend was extremely bad and would have consequences. As the Deputy will be aware, a board of management has responsibility within the school itself. I felt I had a responsibility outside of the...
- School Management. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: -----pay tribute to RTE on what an outstanding service it gave to people, and to parents and schools throughout the country? I am not sure it would be in our interests to be duplicating and, indeed, triplicating that.
- Inquiry into Child Abuse. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I will be bringing the report of the panel appointed by the Government to assess the statements of resources submitted by the 18 religious congregations that were party to the 2002 indemnity agreement, together with details of the congregations' offers of contributions, to the attention of the Government shortly. The arrangements for the publication of the panel's report and the offers of...
- Inquiry into Child Abuse. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Absolutely.
- Inquiry into Child Abuse. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: It would be remiss of me to remark otherwise. The Deputy will be aware that there are several statements from various congregations in the public domain which outline their offers. They are in the public domain.
- Inquiry into Child Abuse. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Others wished to keep the matter confidential. The Deputy will recall the Taoiseach gave a commitment that as part of the overall situation, he would discuss the matter and the Government would consider the panel's report and the composition of the offers. After that, it would hold discussions with the survivors and the congregations and it would then be made public.
- Inquiry into Child Abuse. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The offer has been made in cash and kind. However, I will not reveal the exact amount of cash offered. The Government has the right to consider this matter.
- Inquiry into Child Abuse. (28 Jan 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I refer the Deputy to what the Taoiseach asked of the congregations. He believed they should make a substantial contribution. It is for the Government to decide whether this is a substantial contribution, based on what appeared in the Ryan report. It is only right and proper that the Government should have an opportunity to consider all these elements. I have circulated the memo to all...