Results 821-840 of 16,182 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to open a special class for the 2025/2026 school year. I am pleased to advise that the Start-Up grant payment of €30,000 has been processed by my Department. Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class is also available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government commits to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith based education. The Schools Reconfiguration for diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local communities, has been developed in order to meet demand from parents....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I refer to your correspondence on behalf of a primary teacher regarding the refusal of incremental credit. 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 the auspices of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: At primary level, teachers are allocated to schools at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. DEIS Urban Band 1 schools receive an average allocation of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together. 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. Attracting qualified teachers, whether working overseas or not, is required to address teacher supply issues. As a result, several...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591 and 592 together. My Department does not hold the information requested by the Deputy in a readily accessible format. Therefore, it has not been possible to collate this information within the time available to answer these questions. Officials in my Department are currently gathering information on the matters raised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (13 May 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: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: All applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of capacity requirements and climate action commitments. The priority of my Department continues to be the provision of required additional school places to meet demographic requirements as well as for children with special educational needs. My Department is required to manage the allocated capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together. I recognise the key role school leadership in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities. The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: Small schools have benefitted from the recent improvements in the staffing schedule which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A three point reduction in the retention schedule assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Specific...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government provides for a number of measures to support small schools, including trialling new administrative supports. The Government is very aware that small schools are an important part of the life of local communities. The small school’s project is an innovative project which aims to encourage small schools to cluster together in local groups, enabling them...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I refer to the Deputy’s enquiry concerning the above matter. The Programme for Government commits to expand the provision of after-school and childcare in school buildings and campuses, in tandem with the school building programme, to provide better access for parents and communities. My Department is considering steps which can be taken to meet this commitment. The policy of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: My department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (13 May 2025)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the deputy maybe aware, the purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. 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 emergency situation. An...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 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. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. There are five routes of registration, the minimum registration requirements for each route...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 0031/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (13 May 2025)

Helen McEntee: While AI has the potential to enhance education and inclusion, there are also risks and challenges with its use. As an evolving and emerging technology, it is important that the response and guidance is evidence informed and sufficiently robust. As highlighted in the AI Strategy, ‘AI Here for Good’, it is important that teachers and school leaders understand the strength and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (13 May 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. Since 2020, my Department has invested over €177 million in school infrastructure across County Wicklow. The Department is continually...