Results 13,841-13,860 of 15,969 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Education Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for a change of status to coeducation is the patron/trustees of the schools, subject to the approval of my Department. Local consultation regarding potential change of status to coeducation is encouraged and supported by the Department but it is the responsibility of the patrons to undertake any consultation that they deem...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Transport (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Firstly, let me say that Caretakers are valued members of our school communities who carry out work vital to the operations of our schools. At present, the majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under ancillary grant funding. Under the February 2022 agreement the implementation of revised salary and annual leave entitlements for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide 3 General Classrooms, Science and Preparation area, Construction Room and Preparation area, Home Economic Room, Graphic Design Laboratory, Music Room, Project Store, 2 SET Rooms & Ancillary Rooms and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Teacher Training (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Education Support Centres (ESC) are independent bodies recognised under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998). This legislation states that “An education support centre shall have a management committee, to manage the business and staff of that centre. Decisions about how to run the centre to achieve the best teacher professional learning (TPL) opportunities for all teachers in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education has been providing a payroll service for former grant funded school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of this payroll service is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in 2022. The secretaries had previously...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 and 422 together. Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Facilities (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that my Department has recently approved the surrender of our lease interest on the property in question. My Department is currently preparing an instruction to our legal representatives to progress the legal formalities relating to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The large scale capital project for the provision of a new 600 pupil school and ancillary accommodation is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The remaining Stages are Stage 4 - in Construction, and Stage 5 - Handover and Final Account. A new grant of planning was received in December 2023, with a number of conditions attached. The design team are examining...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Transport (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Funding (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 439 together. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and the principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school, including arrangements for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. While the decision to become involved in organised...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Transport (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that potential accommodation options are currently being reviewed by the patron of the proposed new special school, Tipperary ETB, in conjunction with the Department of Education. A decision on the location of the school will be taken when this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Equipment (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school. The wider question of the need for defibrillators to be made available in public places is primarily a public health...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education has been providing a payroll service for former grant funded school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of this payroll service is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in 2022. The secretaries had previously...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since September 2023, the department is providing a payroll service for previously grant funded Secretaries. This provision is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and also includes revised terms and conditions for secretaries. The Agreement however did not grant...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Special Educational Needs (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the school in question. The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Education Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 441 together. My department is taking a progressive, sequenced approach to developing a comprehensive policy for the Irish language from early years education to teacher education. As it relates to the Department of Education, there are three strands to this work: the Policy on Gaeltacht Education; the policy on Irish-medium education outside of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Facilities (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question for 1 x Mainstream classroom modular and the school authority has subsequently requested that this modular be changed to provide 1 x Special education needs classroom. The purpose of my Department’s...