Results 81-100 of 17,946 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: The joint major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning - Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, which includes an assessment of the site and location suitability, and initial sketch scheme. This project is being delivered as part of the Departments ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (13 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: My department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings as part of our work towards 2030 and 2050 climate targets. This performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design, specification and delivery. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the new Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies subject was introduced this September ìn the fifty-seven schools that successfully applied to become Phase One schools. This phased approach allows schools to be supported in the introduction of the new subject and for reflection on the effectiveness of those supports as more schools subsequently offer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Senior Cycle redevelopment programme provides for the introduction of two new Leaving Certificate subjects; Climate Action and Sustainable Development (CASD) and Drama, Film and Theatre Studies; in Phase One schools for fifth years from September 2025. Both subjects are now being taught in the relevant selected Phase One schools. This phased approach, which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (13 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department currently provides an annual grant to each of the following Community and Comprehensive Schools to allow access to the Sports Complex at the these schools:Newpark Comprehensive School, Blackrock, Co. DublinTallaght Community School, Dublin 24Coolmine Community School, Blanchardstown, DublinMayfield Community School, Cork There are currently no plans to increase this grant funding.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fire Safety (13 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: My department currently has no application for fire safety works at the sports complex referred to by the deputy which is located on the grounds of the local community school. It would be open for the school authority to apply under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) - the purpose of which is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate...

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

Helen McEntee: Most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as school patron. It is recognised, including by the Catholic school patrons, that an educational landscape is needed which more accurately reflects the reality of our increasingly diverse society and meets the expectations parents have for their children. The Programme for Government 2025, commits to seeking to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (13 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently no unused properties, lands and buildings, owned by or under the control of my department in County Mayo. All my department’s properties have either an operating school, or are sites intended for imminent development for educational, recreational and community purposes.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: I was really pleased to visit the school earlier this year. It is very clear this is a school that needs a new building. I know there have been many starts and stops for various reasons over the past number of years. It is my intention to get builders on site as soon as possible. First, it needs to go to tender. I am pleased to be able to say to the Deputy that today the school will get...

Seanad: Extra Time in State Exams for Students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Motion (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for the opportunity to update the House on this really important motion and overall issue. I have engaged with Senator Curley on the issue and I have met with my colleagues Senators Scahill and Nelson Murray. I know it is an extremely important issue for everybody here. The Government is not seeking to oppose the motion. The intent is very reflective of Government policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education and Youth, through various funding streams, continues to support youth services that provide vital developmental opportunities for young people across Dublin City. Youth funding is provided by the department through the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), which plays a central role in coordinating and delivering youth services across the city....

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

Helen McEntee: The school referred to was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for a project providing 2 Special Education Needs classrooms and 1 Special Education Tuition room. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery. I can confirm that a Stage 1 report was returned to my department. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: Officials in my Department have been in contact with the Deputy’s office and as agreed will collate the required information and forward to the Deputy directly. The information in respect of state bodies under the aegis, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my department. State bodies have been provided with the question and have been advised to respond...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Expenditure Policy (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 to 477, inclusive, together. Expenditure per pupil is collated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for primary and post primary education. The table requested by the deputy is available here data-viewer.oecd.org/?chartId=b32869fc-e9ec-465b-b658-e4efb8 6a786f. I have extracted part of the table for reference below. ...

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

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that statistics on exemptions from the study of Irish are available on the department's website: PRIMARY: Total Number exemptions granted and in place at primary level Year Total New Irish Exemptions Granted New Granted: SEN New Granted: Coming from abroad Total Irish Exemptions in place Total Primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 480 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (12 Nov 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together. Both An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and I had a positive and constructive meeting with the group on Monday 10 November. This followed on from previous meetings held and the mediation process that had been put in place. We further discussed the issues of concern to the survivors and noted progress that had been made in seeking a...

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

Helen McEntee: Tackling education disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over € 180 million. The DEIS programme is targeted at schools with the highest levels of...

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

Helen McEntee: The large scale capital project referred to by the Deputy at Mount Temple Comprehensive School is at Stage 4 - In Construction. The project brief is the construction of a new predominantly 3-storey 1,000 pupil post-primary school building. The development will include the demolition of 6 existing buildings on the site (non-protected structures); 5 of which are currently in use by the...

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

Helen McEntee: Tackling education disadvantage is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post primary schools reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of €180 million. The DEIS programme is targeted at schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage. Schools that were included in the most...