Results 15,501-15,520 of 15,994 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for toilet facilities works. The application in question is currently being reviewed by the technical area within the EWS. Once a technical recommendation has been received back from the technical team, the EWS team will engage further with the school as appropriate. The EWS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2025 provides for an unprecedented €11.8 billion investment in education and schools, an increase of some 9 per cent on the same figure in Budget 2024. Currently there are almost 88,000 teaching posts allocated across the primary and post-primary school system. This represents an increase of over 10,000 teachers when compared with the 2019/20 school year. The key factor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The design team to deliver the project was appointed by KWETB in May 2024 and they are currently finalising the Stage 1 report (preliminary design) for submission to the Department for review. Once the Stage 1 report has been received, reviewed, and approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The minor works grant and ICT grant form part of a range of grants and supports provided to schools. The Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The minor works grant is provided to all primary and special schools to enable them undertake small-scale minor maintenance and improvement works on a devolved basis. Under Project Ireland 2040, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school secretary is at the heart of the school and is 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. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools traditionally received assistance to provide for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. More children than ever are accessing the transport scheme, at 173,000. There is a very clear commitment to make sure we expand that further and that as many children as possible can access it. Of course, that means more buses and more drivers. There are clear reasons as to why the 70 year age limit was set, but we have given a clear commitment...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the changes being proposed around the permanent posts. The reason I am proposing that is to make sure our young teachers have that permanent position so that they can access mortgages more quickly and that it gives them that sense of belonging within their schools. It is very much a decision for the individual schools as to whether they allow career...

Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am grateful for the opportunity to set out some of my priorities as Minister for Education and Youth and to share time with my colleagues. My objective is to deliver a world-class education system that breaks down barriers and ensures every child is supported to achieve their full potential. An education system that wraps around all children and young people in every community is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I should explain that applications relating to the provision of funding for issues relating to an existing school building can fall under a number of different delivery mechanisms including, most frequently, the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) and the Emergency Works Scheme. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. It does so...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my department recently approved the provision of two special education classrooms, to be delivered by my department's Project Manager Framework. The project managers have carried out a site visit of the school in question and a viability report has been submitted to my department for review. My officials are currently reviewing the report and the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school secretary is at the heart of the school and is 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. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools traditionally received assistance to provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 May 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 schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: An allocation of 0.50 WTE post is granted to schools, where they provide the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme. As set out in the relevant circulars (006/2025, 007/2025, 008/2025), schools are required to provide confirmation that the LCA programme will be provided in the 2025/26 school year. There are no plans to alter these arrangements. The Deputy may wish to note that, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I refer to the Deputy's enquiry in relation to this school (details supplied). Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department, the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), and the Public Private Partnership Company (PPP Co) in relation to assessing outline design options for additional accommodation for the school. It is expected that a decision in relation to this will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I refer to the Deputy’s enquiry concerning the above matter. My Department has six separate contracts for Public Private Partnership schools (PPPs) - 29 post primary schools and 3 primary schools. The PPP model involves the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of these schools. PPP schools are performing to a high standard in accordance with their operational contracts.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am fully cognisant of the statutory obligations that apply under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. I am satisfied that records relating to government or official business are retained in line with the requirements of the law.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT programme. ADAPT is an acronym for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering". The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS) has been developed focusing on light to medium retrofit works, that can be delivered by a single appointment consultant, (for example, an Architect for fabric related works). The CASWS includes the provision of insulation in terms of attic, cavity and internal drylining. These works generally do not require a project to engage with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I know that teachers experience challenges that were not so acute for previous generations. That is why I have announced that to help teachers to gain permanent roles more quickly, we will develop a new agreement which will see teachers who have taught for one year and successfully interview for a viable post in that school the following year, immediately getting offered a permanent contract...