Results 41-60 of 16,184 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school secretary and caretaker are at the heart of the school and are 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. Since September 2023 my department has been providing a payroll service for former grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Senior Cycle Redevelopment is about recognising and meeting the promise of education. It is about enabling students to navigate the dynamic and ever-changing world around them by helping them to develop their talents, their skills, and their understanding. It has the potential to reduce pressure on students by moving away from a single final examination. The equivalent of additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Section 15 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012), sets out the duties and functions of the boards of management of recognised schools or, where the employer is a person other than a board, by that person. Under Section...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation and delivery of the State examinations, and facilitates access to the examinations through its scheme of reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations, otherwise known as the RACE scheme. I have asked the SEC to respond directly to the Deputy on the question raised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: 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. My Department has a very significant capital programme that is providing additional capacity around the country, underpinned by a robust forward planning process. Since 2020, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early School Leavers (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: As Minister for Education & Youth, I am very conscious of the need to ensure our schools are supported enabling them to maximise teaching and learning outcomes for all students. It is vitally important that our education system is one in which every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. The School Completion...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: For historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron. It is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society. The Programme for Government commits to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people across the 16 education and training boards (ETBs) including Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB. Arising from Budget 2025, over €84 million has been allocated for current and capital expenditure for the benefit of young people. Over the period from 2021 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education and Youth have two designated ‘heads of procurement’ outlined below; Section ‘Head of Procurement’ roles Scope Grade Shared Services Implementation Unit 1 ‘Goods & Services’ Principal Officer Planning and Building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his question; my department does not employ whole time procurement officers and therefore I am unable to provide detail of the number of staff who hold formal qualification or certification in procurement. Procurement is undertaken throughout the department by officers within the business units responsible for the relevant goods or services, or through the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education and Youth use a centralised ‘SharePoint’ Contracts Register, which is updated by individual business units within the Department. The program is an inhouse IT design which allows us to improve the data collected to meet Public Procurement Law as it evolves. Contracts listed are also monitored by the Procurement Policy Unit. The information in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Free Fees Initiative is an administrative scheme of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science with all approved courses, with the exception of Marino Institute of Education primary initial teacher education programmes, funded through the Higher Education Authority. My Department directly provides capitation, free fees and literacy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: A memorandum of understanding sets out the funding and administrative arrangements between Marino Institute of Education and my Department. My Department funds Marino for the delivery of primary ITE programmes through capitation and free fees grants, and there has been an increase in funding since 2024 as outlined below:A capitation grant rate is payable for all approved intake on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to increase dedicated Irish-medium teacher training programmes, and I am delighted that progress has already been made in this area. Marino Institute of Education have recently announced the establishment of an Irish-medium pathway in their PME (primary teaching) programme. Supports for the pathway are being provided by my department and by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for modular accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. My department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school in question submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for fabric defect works. The EWS area is acutely aware of this issue and has been engaging extensively with the school in question for some time. In this regard, some of the documentation submitted was provided in the wrong format and the EWS area has advised the school on what additional detail...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation scheme to provide a 2 classroom SEN base and 1 mainstream classroom. The project is devolved to the School Authority for delivery. I can confirm that my Department awaits a Stage 1 report for review. Once the Stage 1 submission is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 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: Scoileanna DEIS (24 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. 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. It provides a targeted range of supports...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Jun 2025)

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