Results 14,301-14,320 of 15,972 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers to was approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the provision of 2 x Special Educational Needs classrooms and 3 x mainstream classrooms. The project brief is to be delivered using modular accommodation. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of...

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

Helen McEntee: Education and Training Boards (ETBs) were established under the which provides that each ETB is a statutory body having its own corporate status. It is therefore the responsibility of each ETB to manage the day to day operation of the organisation, including the management of staff. It should be noted that under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 an employee has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sports Facilities (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that the property the Deputy refers to is in not in the ownership of my Department, the matter in question should be raised with the registered land owner.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation for a new ASD classroom at the school referred to by the Deputy. Schools’ support for the establishment of special classes is very welcome and the Department commends any school who wishes to open a special class. However, an analysis of both the need for special class...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). This project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process. The Stage 2b report has recently been received by the Department. Once the Stage 2b report is reviewed and approved, the next stage will be to tender for a contractor and onwards to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special...

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

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works. This application is currently being reviewed by the technical team within the EWS area. Once a technical recommendation has been received the EWS team will engage further with the school as appropriate. The EWS team is aware of the urgent nature of the works...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy and can confirm that the department recently wrote to a cohort of fifty-eight retirees regarding an error which occurred due to the incorrect application of a reduction to pensions known as the public sector pension reduction (PSPR). PSPR was introduced under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation....

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. The campus on which the school referred to by the Deputy is located, was completed in Q4 2023 and delivered a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and two 24 classroom primary schools and accommodation, including 14 classrooms across the three projects, for children with special education needs. The campus project also delivered 3 GP...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: This Government is fully committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning. My Department regularly consults with key stakeholders to address critical issues like teacher supply. Further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce are being considered. The objective of the...

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

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question was recently approved additional accommodation under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme. In October last year funding was approved for reconfiguration works to the school to provide for a special class as well as a traditional build of one mainstream classroom and one special education tuition...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Officials from my Department are working with Meath County Council in relation to this former school premises. The matter is being progressed and, pending the receipt of additional information requested from the local authority, I expect the issue to be resolved in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (26 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, is an important piece of legislation which has introduced a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. The legislation is part of a suite of measures taken to take greater account of the needs of parents and students in the school system....

Oideachas trí Mheán na Gaeilge: Tairiscint [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] (4 Mar 2025)

Helen McEntee: Is mian liom mo chuid ama a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ward. Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as an rún atá curtha chun cinn acu agus tá áthas orm an deis a fháil labhairt leis an Teach faoin ábhar tábhachtach seo. It is timely, with Seachtain na Gaeilge in full swing, to remind the House that we should all endeavour to use the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Mar 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 2 science laboratories and preparation area, 1 home economics room, 1 music room, 1 textiles room and a 2 classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base. The project has been devolved for delivery to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (5 Mar 2025)

Helen McEntee: I have asked my Department to work on updating contingency plans for extreme weather events and that this work would be done in consultation with relevant stakeholders. As part of its linkage in to the National Emergency Coordination Group my Department provided guidance and support to the school system including provision of generators to a small number of schools that had significant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Mar 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the design stages of architectural planning to Tender and Construction. The Brief for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Mar 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. The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (5 Mar 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in relation to costs of digital technology, including tablets, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. As referred, in 2017, a circular letter issued to schools with measures to be adopted to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs including such ICT devices. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (5 Mar 2025)

Helen McEntee: Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools are a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a...