Results 201-220 of 16,608 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 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 of mine. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as school patron. It is recognised, including by the Catholic school patrons, that an educational landscape is needed which more accurately reflects the reality of our increasingly diverse society and meets the expectations parents have for their children. The Programme for Government commits to seeking to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB). The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process. This stage involves obtaining all statutory approvals, preparing a set of fully detailed Tender documents, and preparing an accurate pre-tender cost plan. My department manages the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department has adapted to the dynamic landscape of student enrolment and has prioritised enhancing English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, recognising the critical role of language. The Department's policies enable flexible resource allocation to ensure that the resources follow pupils in the event of them changing schools. These supports to schools, based on application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide one Special Education Classroom. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. The letter issued to the school outlined the full four-step process typically followed for ASA projects. While this process remains accurate, it...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: There are commitments in the PSrogramme for Government to expand opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and also, to support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children. Work is currently underway in my department on the development of a new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Senior Cycle Redevelopment is an ambitious programme of work which aims to enrich students’ experience Senior Cycle in a way that allows them to demonstrate a broader array of skills and competencies while reducing the pressure associated with end of year examinations. The approach to Senior Cycle Redevelopment has, from its outset, been a collaborative one that engages actively...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the Education Act, the Boards of Management of Schools have responsibility for the day to day management of schools. Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Each year my Department advises schools of the list of prescribed texts for Leaving Certificate English for students entering fifth year. Requirements are different for students studying Higher level and Ordinary level. School authorities and teachers are asked to note that no specific text is compulsory, although at Higher level one of the listed Shakespeare plays must be studied. Dramas for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 508 together. This joint school building project will deliver a new extension and refurbishment of some existing accommodation to provide a 24 classroom primary school with classrooms for children with special educational needs for both schools. The schedule of accommodation was recently increased to include accommodation for children with Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) application in question is currently being reviewed by the technical area within the EWS. 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 required and will keep the school informed throughout the process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: In order to deliver a world class education system which breaks down barriers and ensures every child can achieve their full potential, my Department has responsibility for a number of important strategies and action plans which are currently active:Education Plan 2025: This Annual plan is for the Department of Education and Youth. This is produced in line with the commitments set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (15 Jul 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, and for the Government. The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. My department invests over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education and Youth as of end of May has a headcount of 2080. The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is 2035.58. The Youth Affairs unit of the Department has a headcount of 21 and an FTE of 20.8. The grade breakdown of this unit is detailed below: Grade Staff FTE Principal Officer 2 2 Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Large-Scale Capital Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s School Building Programme. The large-scale capital project for the construction of a new extension and the refurbishment of existing facilities is to accommodate 1,000 pupils, with accommodation and classrooms for children with special educational needs. The project is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The purpose of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The CASWS operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works such as External...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together. The Department recognises the vitally important role of Secretaries within school communities, as a key link between students, parents, school leaders and other staff ensuring that the administrative needs of the school are met. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. The Department of Education and Youth is not the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Work is currently underway on developing and publishing an allocation model for school secretaries. This is a complex task and requires factoring in a number of elements - such as school status, class type, enrolment numbers, and existing secretary arrangements - to ensure that the final model is fair to all schools whilst also meeting their practical needs. Up to the publication of the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: It is child protection. That is not correct.