Results 1,281-1,300 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I stress that my ambition and that of the Minister of State - as the Deputy has said, we are working very closely together in the area of special education - is to make sure that every child has a school place, and when they are in school in a place that is appropriate to them, that they have the resources and the supports that they need, be it in mainstream, a special class or a special...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. It is clear for all of us that schools are saying they need more support. We can do that in two ways. I outlined last week that first it is around capitation, direct funding and direct supports, but also looking at other ways in which we could reduce costs, whether it is insurance, energy bills or other areas. We are working on that. As the Deputy mentioned, the increase has...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: That has to be decided. I will be honest; the key focus at the moment is on our national development plan review and the summer economic statement, which will be published in the coming weeks. Beyond that then is a decision that would have been taken at a whole-of-government level. Unfortunately, I cannot give the Deputy clarity on that.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will see with the funding that has been allocated, there was a permanent increase in the base last year for school transport, which is welcome. It is an additional €54 million on top of that. As part of the cost-of-living, it was an additional €58 million which was provided for. This is where the Deputy will see the two figures in the graph that he has been given....

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: That is the commitment that we have made. We have not set that out yet. The pilot will continue into this year. Once it is assessed, it will give a clearer indication as to what is the best way to apply it. There are certain ways in which we can in lifting criteria and putting in certain routes. The pilot will show us what is working well and what we could do to enhance it.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy that secretaries and caretakers are an integral part our schools. We need to work with them to make sure they are supported in the work they do. Any changes to terms and conditions, including pensions, would have to be agreed by the Department of public expenditure because it is connected to public sector pay agreements. Any of those negotiations have to come...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: This is an important measure and it is a priority for me and the Minister of State to get this in situ as soon as possible, to expand it and roll it out beyond our special schools. I am pleased in what I am seeking approval at the committee today includes €5 million in capital funding for this school term, specifically relating to therapies, but also €3.2 million in current...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: On the last question, as I understand it my ministerial colleague, Deputy Moynihan, said he would revert to the Deputy but I ask him to forward the details to my office too. As we discussed last week, with any suggested or proposed changes to the designation of any class or school the intention is to make classrooms and schools more inclusive and not to exclude anybody. It is not to prevent...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The plan is to try to make sure we are looking much further than a year ahead or even, as it is now, the year that we are in. If we only find out who the children are that need places in February or March, we are giving ourselves very little time to put those places in situ for September. That is why we are changing our timelines and why we are asking parents and schools to notify the NCSE...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The communications will be conducted through the NCSE and is very much a part of its budget. Work is already under way. A key role of the SENOs is to engage with schools to make sure that principals and teachers know about the new deadline. Obviously, that communication will follow through from the schools to any parents who are thinking of enrolling their child. There is also an onus on...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The intention is to make sure special schools have the resources they need. A different model is already applied to special schools. Changes were made recently to try to increase them. For example, all special schools will have an administrative deputy, 100 teaching posts have been allocated to post-primary-age students, NEPS has been in all special schools since September 2023, and there...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: There are special allowances based on equipment or supports that might be needed in classrooms. Following our conversation, I am keen to see if there are discrepancies around the capitation grant and how it is allocated. The baseline we apply to other schools is 60 students. If there are fewer than 60 students, does a special school get less? We will work through to see if there are gaps...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: It is my intention that we provide further support for youth funding, not just in the current budget but also on the capital side where it is a small part compared with the overall education budget. That is my ambition in the national development plan review. Separately, we need to understand how youth services can integrate and enhance the work in education and vice versa. Work is being...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will have to come back to the Deputy on that. I am not sure where the 9% increase brings us relative to a few years ago but I agree with the Deputy. I was at Pride in Navan at the weekend and was delighted to launch Proud Spaces, which is a new venture and part of the work Youth Work Ireland Meath is doing. It is about supporting the LGBTQ+ community. I am very aware of the work the...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I agree. We need to have targeted resources and supports where needed but also, more broadly, a geographically even spread, insofar as is possible, urban and rural. It is a preventive element, really, and deals with how we engage with young people before it has to be targeted. I fully support that.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am afraid I do not have the answer today but there is often crossover between Departments in a number of ways. It is about making sure that what is intended is delivered. For hot school meals, the focus is on making sure every child gets a hot meal. I am pleased to say that is the case for the vast majority of children now. It was decided at the time that this would be done, for the...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will start by saying that every year in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of people wanting to become teachers. It is a very sought-after profession for lots of different reasons. Given the role that teachers play, it is a highly valued role in our society. As the Cathaoirleach says, it is not just about English, Irish, maths and history. There is so much that is...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I fully agree. The digital strategy that we have, the investment in technology in schools, is having a positive impact. As it rolls out even more in the coming years, AI will be of significant benefit to teachers and students.

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The number of people who have been availing of school transport is increasing. We have over 170,000, with a significant number of young children with special educational needs included in that as well. The figures the Deputy has here are somewhat distorted by the €58 million that was allocated at the end of last year in the cost-of-living measures. The €58 million as part of...

Select Committee on Education and Youth: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: At this moment, no, I cannot tell anybody where they might be going. Once this is approved, my intention is that as soon as possible we will open up the process to hire and then working alongside that identify the 45 schools and make sure we have the provisions in place to be able to start therapies during this school year, preferably before the end of this year. We are moving fast. We...