Results 2,281-2,300 of 16,227 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (11 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education (ITE) programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. The Council reviewed its policy on standards for programmes of ITE and published updated standards in Céim Standards for ITE in October 2020. Céim includes seven Core Elements which underpin all aspects of programmes of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 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 Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school referred to by the Deputy is currently based in temporary modular accommodation. It is intended that the school will relocate to a former primary school building that is currently occupied by a special school pending the construction of a new school building for that special school which is currently under construction. It is envisaged that the new school building for the special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (11 Feb 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.The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over 3,700 individual school authorities, responsible for this process,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (11 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: A proof of concept to examine if AI technologies could support Departmental staff in responding to customer queries was completed. The proof of concept focused on the potential for using AI technologies to analyse large volumes of publicly available information. An external service provider assisted with this at no cost to the Department. My Department continue to review and follow...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (11 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Act, school admission policies are approved by the Patron, following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (11 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my Department since 2021. TESS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted 2 applications for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works and life safety systems. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation. The scope of works sought by the school in question was in excess of this on both applications and the school was informed that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (6 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. During the course of the review of this application it was noted that the roof in question was completed in 2016. Given the relatively short period of time since the roof was completed the school was advised to engage with the original design team involved in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Cork Education and Training Board (CETB). The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural detailed design process. The Stage 2a report has been received into my department and the review has been completed. A stage meeting has been scheduled to take place in Q1 2025 with CETB, the Design Team and the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 6 General classrooms, 2 classroom SEN base, 1 Technical Graphics room, 1 Woodwork room, 2 Science rooms and shared preparation areas, 1 Home Economics room under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. I am pleased to advise that this project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 9 General classrooms, 4 SET rooms, 1 Music room, 1 DCG room, 1 Science lab with Preparation area, 1 Art room, 1 Project store and a 3 Classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base under the Additional Schools Accommodation scheme. The project was devolved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the provision of 2 mainstream classrooms. The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: There was nil spend in the last fiscal year on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research. In the fiscal year ahead, there is €500,000 allocated for artificial intelligence systems and artificial intelligence research. The breakdown of this is as follows (i) the implementation and operational use of optical character recognition (OCR) and processing of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has approved capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question for a traditional building project consisting of 3 Mainstream general classrooms, 1 Music room,1 Science lab & prep area, 1 Graphics room,1 Home economics room, 1 Construction room & prep area, 1 Special education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The department employs a detailed planning process to determine school provision needs. This process involves dividing the country into 314 school planning areas and utilizing a Geographical Information System (GIS). The GIS uses a variety of data sources, including Child Benefit records and school enrolment statistics, to pinpoint areas where there is a growing demand for school places. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for the replacement of external windows and doors. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation, the scope of works sought by the school in question was in excess of this and the school was informed that a revised scope of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (6 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has approved capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question for a traditional building project consisting of 3 Mainstream general classrooms, 1 Music room,1 Science lab & prep area, 1 Graphics room,1 Home economics room, 1 Construction room & prep area, 1 Special education...