Results 861-880 of 17,382 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: School secretaries are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders and other staff.  Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole. Since September 2023 my department has been providing a payroll service for former grant funded school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Over recent years, the Government has made significant progress in strengthening the education system. This includes increased capitation funding for schools, the allocation of thousands of additional teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, enhanced supports for school leadership, smaller class sizes, targeted measures to address teacher supply, and the provision of free schoolbooks at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: In June of this year my department issued a circular to post-primary schools (circular 0045/2025) informing them that they are required to implement a policy to restrict the use of, and access to, personal mobile phones by pupils for the duration of the school day. This policy is intended to support schools in improving the learning environment in schools by reducing distraction, reducing the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department acknowledges the importance of engaging young people "where they are”. Action 10 of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services commits to the development and implementation of a policy for youth spaces at the local level. This action is to be delivered in collaboration between my Department and partners including the education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Please find attached requested data. 2023-2024 is the most recent year we have final published class data for on the department website. We will revert to the Deputy with data for academic year 2024-2025 as soon as it has been published. In previous budgets, reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools was prioritised which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government commits to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education. In order to increase choice for parents and to maximise the use of the existing school estate, my department has developed the schools reconguration process.  The schools reconfiguration process aims to meet demand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Tackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to fulfil their full potential in life is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme is a key policy of government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level.   My department is investing over €180 million annually to provide additional?supports?to almost 1,200...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this government.?It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Voluntary contributions can be requested by schools; however it must be made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay, and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own choice, and there is no compulsion to pay. The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools, and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Promoting positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education and Youth and myself as Minister.   The Department’s approach in the Well-being Policy is founded on research and best international practice in relation to how schools can best support the well-being and mental health of children and young people.  The approach proposed is a whole school and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Schools in financial difficulty are encouraged to contact my Department for advice and support. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to schools, which may include an advance in capitation grant funding or other measures. The Department is constantly engaging with a number of schools in this respect. Schools that have contacted the Department have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I very much welcome the recent publication of the Education Indicators for Ireland 2024 report.  The report is the first of its kind to comprehensively cover education at all stages from early learning and care, through primary and post-primary education to further and higher education and lifelong learning. It gives a snapshot of the entire education system as it is now and shares...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education sets the minimum entry requirements for Irish, English and Mathematics for entry to primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programmes. This was signalled in the National Strategy on Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life (2011) and is to ensure that primary teachers have the capacity to lead learning in these particular subjects, which are considered as core...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321, 322, 323, 324 and 325 together. As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle educational disadvantage. That is why I am committed to publishing a new DEIS Plan in 2025. Building on the expansion of the DEIS programme in 2022, the new DEIS plan will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Protection (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to delivering an education system that is of a high quality, and where every child and young person is valued and supported to reach their full potential. I recognise and appreciate schools' engagement, collaboration, and support in welcoming children who are in the International Protection process and those from Ukraine who are here under the Temporary Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department has adapted to the dynamic landscape of student enrolment and has prioritised enhancing English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, recognising the critical role of language. All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations. Language supports are also included through the...