Results 81-100 of 16,285 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will have to come back to the Deputy on that. I am not sure where the 9% increase brings us relative to a few years ago but I agree with the Deputy. I was at Pride in Navan at the weekend and was delighted to launch Proud Spaces, which is a new venture and part of the work Youth Work Ireland Meath is doing. It is about supporting the LGBTQ+ community. I am very aware of the work the...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I agree. We need to have targeted resources and supports where needed but also, more broadly, a geographically even spread, insofar as is possible, urban and rural. It is a preventive element, really, and deals with how we engage with young people before it has to be targeted. I fully support that.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am afraid I do not have the answer today but there is often crossover between Departments in a number of ways. It is about making sure that what is intended is delivered. For hot school meals, the focus is on making sure every child gets a hot meal. I am pleased to say that is the case for the vast majority of children now. It was decided at the time that this would be done, for the...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will start by saying that every year in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of people wanting to become teachers. It is a very sought-after profession for lots of different reasons. Given the role that teachers play, it is a highly valued role in our society. As the Cathaoirleach says, it is not just about English, Irish, maths and history. There is so much that is...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I fully agree. The digital strategy that we have, the investment in technology in schools, is having a positive impact. As it rolls out even more in the coming years, AI will be of significant benefit to teachers and students.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The number of people who have been availing of school transport is increasing. We have over 170,000, with a significant number of young children with special educational needs included in that as well. The figures the Deputy has here are somewhat distorted by the €58 million that was allocated at the end of last year in the cost-of-living measures. The €58 million as part of...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: At this moment, no, I cannot tell anybody where they might be going. Once this is approved, my intention is that as soon as possible we will open up the process to hire and then working alongside that identify the 45 schools and make sure we have the provisions in place to be able to start therapies during this school year, preferably before the end of this year. We are moving fast. We...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: That is the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. There is an element that is still within the Department but the funding of that is all through the Department of children. It is the early intervention classes.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: In the interim, just to say transitions are really important, so working closely with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and the Minister, Deputy Lawless, as well.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: It is reflected in the figures here. About €90 million has transferred over. I will find the section. If the Deputy looks at A.10, where there are the figures 150 and 169, it is an increase, and the transfer of youth services of €87 million overall.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. We have to take on board any budget submission and then put it in as part of our overall bid. I mentioned to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, last weekend the proud spaces model, which we both visited, and its importance for young people. We must ensure we invest in buildings. Many of them are old and not fit for their current use or what was originally intended for...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: It is my ambition to expand the school transport scheme. That means more bus drivers. The Deputy will know this is a policy Bus Éireann has in place in general. Obviously, it applies to the school transport scheme as well. We are looking at an independent assessment. While a review has been conducted, which recommended no change, the Government gave a clear commitment to do an...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I do not have an exact timeline, but work is under way at the moment. I will come back to the Deputy as soon as we have some clarity on that.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: No. It is my understanding that it will not be before September. I will clarify that for the Deputy. I do not think it will be before September.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. That work is being chaired by the Department of Transport, although between the two Departments we can ensure the outcome of that work is shared with the committee.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. There is a commitment on the issue of school uniforms in the education plan I published recently. As she said, there was a circular relating to parents getting best value for money as well as that link between schools. There have traditionally been links with particular providers in rural areas. It is about ensuring there is value for money for parents without...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: That is absolutely where we want to get to. That is why we need to make sure the capitation grant covers the basics. We must also try to reduce, where we can, the basics for schools as well, such as through reducing electricity costs with the investment in solar panels and the retrofitting that is happening. New school buildings have much lower energy bills because of their rating. The...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: We saw in recent weeks through other Departments that funds are being provided and supported for the back to school allowance, which are welcome. We had foster families included in it more recently as well, and there is also the child bonus. There has been an attempt to try to make sure with any increases or double payments that they are at times when parents need that support the most. We...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: There are a number of elements to that. On the capital side and physical space, approximately 90% of our secondary schools have PE halls and they are generally much bigger than the Chair outlined and allow for the adequate provision of PE and any other type of sports in the school. I appreciate that some of our smaller primary schools do not have PE halls. How we support them and provide...