Results 101-120 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: It is very few schools you pass that do not have an active flag at this stage.

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

Helen McEntee: On the previous point, we always have to balance to make sure children have access to school places. That is always the number one intention and objective, and that we can provide those spaces for PE and physical activity. I fully support and agree with the Chair on libraries. The earlier children can start reading the better it is for them, for so many different reasons. I support the...

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

Helen McEntee: Okay.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The organisation in question is an independent voluntary organisation governed by an independent Board. As such, the compensation of abuse survivors or the establishment of a redress scheme are matters for the organisation to determine. It receives some of its funding from the Department of Education and Youth and raises other funding through member subscriptions and fundraising. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am glad to inform the Deputy that the pay related matter referred to has been resolved and the teacher concerned can expect payment of arrears with the salary due on the 7th July 2025. The payroll section of my Department can be contacted using the online contact form available on my Department's website at

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. Housing policy is a priority matter for Government, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department of Education. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the Education Act 1998, the legal responsibility for transferring patronage of a school rests with the current school patron in the first instance. A school patron may write to me as Minister for Education and Youth in relation to transfer of patronage of a school under their patronage under Section 8 of the Education Act 1998 and request that the patron register is amended...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department uses a range of data sources when analysing the demand for school places, including enrolment data, child benefit data, census data, Local Authority population & housing projections and data on residential construction activity. As the Deputy may be aware, the annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question currently has a project at stage 4 under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This project will provide the school with three new science laboratories, two prep areas and a new design and communications (DCG) room as well as two mainstream classrooms by way of refurbishment of existing accommodation....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme to provide 1 mainstream classroom and a 2 classroom SEN base. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery. A Stage 2b Report (post planning) was received in April 2025. This report is presently being evaluated from both technical and financial standpoints in compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department does not hold data on how many schools offer swimming lessons. All schools are required to deliver physical education as part of the curriculum. Physical Education supports the development of physical, cognitive, psychological and social capabilities. 1999 Curriculum: The current Physical Education (PE) curriculum was introduced as part of the Primary School Curriculum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department does not hold data on how many schools offer swimming lessons. All schools are required to deliver physical education as part of the curriculum. Physical Education supports the development of physical, cognitive, psychological and social capabilities. 1999 Curriculum: The current Physical Education (PE) curriculum was introduced as part of the Primary School Curriculum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: At Junior Cycle all students undertaking a level 3 programme study a Physical Education specification designed for 135 hours engagement over the three years of Junior Cycle. The course offers a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it. Aquatics is one of the physical activities included...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their engagement. I thank, in particular, Senator Boyhan for his engagement on this particular section and these amendments. As he has outlined, I support the idea. We have followed through on having a review of the criteria for the educational supports that will follow once this Bill is enacted. As I outlined to the Deputy on the proposal for a review after one year,...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: It will not cause problems for anyone if there is no one to apply to the scheme. It is not helpful to have a scheme in legislation that is not available to anyone because there is no one to avail of it. This simply states that the scheme can be wound down if, in 20 or 30 years' time, nobody is applying for it because none of the 16,000 or so people who want to avail of it and who have...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will clarify. This is my mistake. It is the review that will cease, not the scheme itself.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues for their engagement. Senator Boyhan has outlined the reasons I cannot accept amendment No. 3. It is specifically due to the naming but also the reference to the provision of resources, which is not something I can agree to. It is something that must be worked through on a yearly basis. I have outlined to him in writing our commitment to Sage - to the work it has done...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: As I have outlined before, this legislation and the supports being provided are directly linked to those who availed of funding through Caranua. Caranua was previously directly linked to those who had availed of the initial redress scheme. There was a very clear and direct link to those who availed of those supports. The intention behind this Bill is not just to wind down Caranua. Caranua...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The amendment we agreed was the education one. The second amendment was more specifically around Sage Advocacy and outlining its work.