Results 301-320 of 16,184 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: As to the Deputy’s first point, I refer to the former Minister, Ruairí Quinn, who introduced junior cycle reform in the face of challenges. That work was followed up on by another former Minister, Jan O’Sullivan. Very soon after that, in 2016, leaving certificate reform started. This is not accelerated. It takes time and will be done on a phased basis. On the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I have been meeting with the NCSE to make sure we are on top of the figures and understand where we are. As of yesterday, more than 92% of children have been allocated places or are in the process of that happening. Outside of Dublin, where there are still places to be allocated, there are pathways for every child. For example, in our county of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: On the children the Deputy mentioned, I will not be specific but that is why this process is important. If we do not know about a child and their needs, it is hard to identity and allocate support to them. For any child known to the NCSE in Kerry or anywhere, as far as I and the NCSE are concerned, there are places available and being provided. That is being worked through at the moment....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will take it back to what we are discussing, and that is leaving certificate reform. It is important to stress we are living through a period of rapid change and it is essential that we equip children and young people with the skills and competencies they need to succeed and thrive in a changing world. That is a central purpose of senior cycle redevelopment, which builds on junior cycle...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Some 399 new special classes have been sanctioned so far for the 2025-26 school year. Of these, 287 are at primary level and 112 are at post-primary level, increasing the number of special classes by 103% since 2020. This means overall that there will be 3,700 special classes and 129 special schools in operation throughout the country. We will continue to build on that. Just under...

Seanad: Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am delighted to be in the Seanad for the second time this week and am grateful now for the opportunity to set out some of my priorities as Minister for Education and Youth. My objective, which I assume is the same for everybody, is to deliver a world-class education system which breaks down barriers and above all ensures every child can achieve his or her full potential. An education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Senior Cycle Redevelopment will ensure that we can equip every student with the skills and competencies they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. A key element of the redevelopment programme is the introduction of additional assessment components that are not traditional written examinations, where students can earn at least 40% of the final available marks. I hope that this important...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. The project to deliver a new 600 pupil building for the school in question supports this commitment. When I recently visited the school I saw first-hand the importance of the planned building project for the school community....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day to day running costs. The Commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including a €30 million permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The staffing schedule is an allocation mechanism that uses enrolment bands to determine the number of classroom teaching posts allocated to a school. This is a long-standing arrangement for allocating teaching posts to our primary schools in a fair and equitable way based on their respective enrolment. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project referred to by the Deputy will deliver a shared educational campus which will provide 2 new 1,000 pupil post primary schools with 6 classrooms for children with special education needs, a new 8 classroom primary school with accommodation and 2 classrooms for children with special education needs and a new 20 classroom special school at the Swords Road campus in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 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: Educational Disadvantage (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to provide equity of opportunity to young people at risk of educational disadvantage to achieve their potential through education. My department invests over €180 million annually in supporting schools in the DEIS programme, of which over €20m is allocated to schools by way of a DEIS grant. This includes a targeted range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs. The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including a €30 million permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Tackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to achieve 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. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta, as an gceist seo a ardú. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to expand opportunities for students to attend gaelscoileanna and gaelcholáistí. My department promotes and supports various models of immersive Irish-medium education at post-primary level. As well as supporting gaelcholáistí, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: My department has a robust forward planning process which considers population and enrolment data. Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, is by way of expansion of existing schools, rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: There is a commitment in the current Programme for Government 2025 to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children. This commitment is supported by the ongoing work within the department on the development of a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. This policy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project referred to by the Deputy is devolved for delivery to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). The project is currently at Stage 2a (the developed design stage) of the architectural process. As part of this process a stage 2a report was submitted in May 2025 by the project Design Team for review by the Department. Once this information is reviewed and approved by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The expansion of capacity at special schools is an important priority for my department including the special school referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that in 2022 approval was granted by my department for a traditional build project to provide 4 additional special education classrooms and the project is currently at design stage. The school subsequently submitted an Additional...