Results 341-360 of 16,608 for speaker:Helen McEntee

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Voluntary contributions are by their nature voluntary. It is up to each individual school to decide what it asks parents for. My objective as Minister is to ensure they have the support, funding and capitation they need for the day-to-day basics. That is why we recently increased the capitation. For next September, the rates for primary and post-primary schoolchildren...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. SNAs are an integral part of schools in supporting children and I acknowledge the work they do. By the end of this year, we will have more SNAs than we have ever had before. There will be more than 23,000 SNAs, including the 1,600 additional SNAs provided for in last year's budget. They are allocated through the NCSE and that is based on...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, this Government and my Department are committed to supporting our schools and ensuring that they have adequate funding. Capitation increased only in the last few weeks. This was secured in last year's budget. Any negotiations and agreements on next year's budget will be happening in the coming weeks. I am also interested in not only providing more supports for...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the Lobinstown-Newtown and Drumcondra active retirement groups. We are delighted to have them here today.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues who have contributed. Referencing another point that they made, separate to amendments Nos. 9 and 13, I fully accept that there are institutions or individuals who are not included in this redress scheme. It is important to note whether it was this particular scheme, the residential institutions redress scheme back in 2002, or even more recently, the mother and baby homes...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I apologise to the different crowds who came in who I did not see. I acknowledge Sheila, Mary, Miriam and Mary. I thank them for being here at every debate, as difficult as I am sure it has been for each and every one of them. I acknowledge so much of what we have spoken of here today, not just specifically Caranua or the redress scheme but the trauma, hurt and pain that has been...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will not repeat what I said earlier. I thank colleagues for their engagement. This is something that has obviously been ongoing for some time. I appreciate how challenging and difficult it has been for colleagues and particularly for survivors. I again acknowledge Mary, Mary, Miriam and Sheila, who are here today. After the conversations we have just had, I am not sure there is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 331 and 332 together. The most recent school completion figures available concerns the students who began their post primary education in 2017. This cohort were due to complete their Leaving Certificate in the academic years 2021-22 or 2022-23. Percentage figures for the 2018 cohort finishing in 2023-24 are yet to be published. Leaving Certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I refer to your correspondence on behalf of a primary teacher regarding incremental credit for prior primary teaching service. The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The primary staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location. It is an important feature of the staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (1 Jul 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 1 general classroom, 1 science laboratory with a preparation area and ancillary. The project is devolved for delivery to CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board). A school building project has four points within the design and delivery process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, the department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects.?Government support for this investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.? A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for external environment works. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my departments pipeline to provide for 4 General Classrooms, 1 Technology Room with prep area, 3 Science Laboratories with prep area, 1 Art Room, 1 Music Room,1 Multimedia Room, 1 Textile Room, 1 Home Economics Room, 1 SET room, 4 Classroom SEN Base, and ancillary along with conversion work to existing Laboratories and a Technology...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 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 1 general classroom, 1 science laboratory with a preparation area and ancillary. The project is devolved for delivery to CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board). A school building project has four points within the design and delivery process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the state. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (1 Jul 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 1 general classroom, 1 science laboratory with a preparation area and ancillary. The project is devolved for delivery to CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board). A school building project has four points within the design and delivery process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I would like to thank Deputy Clarke for her question regarding provision of mental health services to schools. It is important to note at the outset that responsibility for mental health services rests with the HSE. However, I can advise the deputy of the following services and initiatives are available to schools from my department. The National Educational Psychological Service My...