Results 1,661-1,680 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The review of policies and procedures for the provision of temporary classroom accommodation is well underway. One change in policy that has been implemented is to grant aid the purchase (rather than rental) of temporary accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. Furthermore, since July 2008, it is my policy to offer schools being...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 61 together. As the Deputy will be aware the student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. These services may include on-campus medical and counselling facilities for students, access and disability services, careers office, student facilities, student clubs and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is not possible to assess the scale of drop out in the current year on the basis of data currently available to my Department and the Higher Education Authority. However, the issue of student retention is a priority issue for me and it is an issue that will increase in importance in light of the recent increases in student enrolments in the last two years. In light of my prioritisation of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department currently has 226 major capital projects for school buildings at various stages of architectural planning. These range from projects where a design team is to be appointed to those currently at tender stage. Applications for 34 of these projects were received since January 2005. Applications for the remainder of these major capital projects would have been received in my...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Project Maths initiative is designed to encourage better understanding of Maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and junior and senior cycle. It is being led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, working in collaboration with my Department and the State Examinations...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: At primary level the average class size for each of the years 2006/07, 07/08 and 08/09 was 24.09, 23.9 and 23.8 respectively. The pupil teacher ratio varied from 16.41:1 in 2006/07, 16:1 in 2007/08 to 15.9:1 in 2008/09. At post-primary level the PTR in 2006/07, 07/08 and 08/09 was 24.09, 23.9 and 23.8 respectively. Data in relation to the 2009/10 school year is currently being collected...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Forward Planning Section of my Department utilises the latest in GIS technology to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The Geographical Information System contains information on all schools in the country, primary and post primary level, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically the...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The October Budget set out the changes in how all fee-charging schools are treated in relation to the number of publicly funded teaching posts they are allocated. With effect from 1 September 2009, teachers in all fee-charging schools are allocated at a pupil teacher ratio of 20:1, which is a point higher than allocations in non fee-charging post-primary schools. In view of the...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The new post primary school project for Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, is one of the eight schools which I approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle is in the pre procurement stage. Detailed output specifications and Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) are being prepared and outline planning applications have been submitted to the...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has invested significantly in higher education in recent years with funding of some €2 billion being allocated this year to the sector which includes recurrent and capital funding. I acknowledge however that in the current difficult budgetary and economic climate that there will be challenges for our third level institutions in prioritising and managing budgets to...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Officials in my Department recently met with the Trustees of the school referred to by the Deputy. They expressed some concern about the future of the school and it is my understanding that they are considering a number of options in this regard. The Department were advised that the Trustees were proposing to meet with the Board of Management, staff and parent body from the school to...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The question of 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. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 322, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 provides that a child (defined as a person who is not more than 18 years) with special educational needs shall be educated in an inclusive environment unless such an arrangement is inconsistent with the best interests of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: A major capital project at the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The brief is to provide a complete new school which will include appropriate science facilities. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependent on the prioritisation of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Fund for Students with Disabilities, which provides supports to students with disabilities attending full-time courses at third level, currently operates in line with regulations concerning the Maintenance Grant. Therefore the provision of support does not extend to those attending part-time courses. The Higher Education Authority also provides institutions with recurrent funding to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Based on current demographic trends my Department anticipates that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in the Lucan area in the medium term. Officials from the Department have carried out a technical inspection of the various site options identified by South Dublin County Council. On foot of the technical report my officials wrote to the council to advise them of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together. The recruitment, selection and appointment of teachers to all schools is a matter for each individual school authority as employer. While my Department operates a payroll service for teachers employed in schools it does not maintain records of vacancies within the schools. The purpose of the Government decision to implement a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) for public servants over 50 years of age, announced in the Budget in April this year, does not apply to teachers for 2 reasons. Firstly, primary and post-primary teachers are not subject to the moratorium on recruitment which applies to most other parts of the public service and so retiring teachers are, in most cases, replaced. Secondly,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The new post primary school project for Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, is one of the eight schools which I approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle is in the pre procurement stage. Detailed output specifications and Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) are being prepared and outline planning applications have been submitted to the...