Results 121-140 of 15,027 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. These projects have delivered almost 100,000 additional and replacement school places, including almost 3,000 in County Mayo. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Reducing the level of school absenteeism is a key priority for me as Minister. The School Completion Programme will be a key part of our response to a significant rise in school absenteeism in recent years. The is an important programme to support children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving and is part of my department’s Delivering Equality of Opportunity in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The purpose of the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area. School building projects delivered under my Department’s Additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The School Transport 2030 report, which was published in early 2024 marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. I am committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendations of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030, and to continue to improve the scheme to that it provides a valuable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Teanga Gaeilge (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Leag mé amach gealltanais uaillmhianacha sa bhfrithrún a mhol mé maidir leis an nGaeilge sa chóras oideachais agus tá mé tiomanta beart a dhéanamh de réir mo bhriathar maidir leis na gealltanais sin le linn thréimhse an rialtais seo. Mar a bhaineann sé le mo roinn, tá cur chuige forásach, seicheamhach á ghlacadh le...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Teanga Gaeilge (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Ba é a bhí i gceist le Creatchuraclam na Bunscoile (2023) a fhorbairt ná taighde náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta, comhoibriú le líonra scoileanna, caidreamh le comhpháirtithe agus geallsealbhóirí oideachais, agus comhairliúchán fairsing. Tógtar leis ar éachtaí agus láidreachtaí churaclam na bliana...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: 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. In circumstances where posts are unfilled for a period of time, or where a vacancy arises in a school due to a teacher taking leave, such vacancies may be filled by substitute teachers....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our children. The Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special schools. The NEPS service provides access to: - Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident - A Casework...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Schools PV Programme is funded by the Government’s Climate Action Fund which is managed by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications in line with the Government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development. It is assisting schools in reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint as part...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 135 together. The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is the provision of a new 600 pupil school building including all associated ancillary accommodation. The project was originally authorised to proceed to tender, upon completion of the prequalification shortlisting process in September 2022. Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: 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 Department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. Additionally, my officials work very closely with schools and patrons to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: To ensure alignment of school provision with rollout of additional residential development, the department liaises with all 31 Local Authorities in respect of the County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas. My department engages with all consultation phases of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the new special school will be based at the former primary school building in Carignavar. The scope of repurposing works to facilitate the establishment of the new special school is currently being worked through by Project Managers and their Design Team. A contractor framework is in place to facilitate commencement of works when the scope of works and design process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the deputy may be aware, officials from the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) team attended a site visit to the school in question in March of this year. My Department is continuing to engage with the school to find a solution to the ongoing issues. At present the school is in the process of undergoing a leak detection test to inform an appropriate scope of works. Once this has been received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The expansion of capacity at special schools is an important priority for my Department including for the special school referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that in 2022 approval was granted by the Department for a traditional build project to provide four additional special education classrooms and the project is currently at design stage.The school subsequently submitted an Additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school in question was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide 1 special education tuition room, 1 music room, 1 graphics room, 1 technology room, 1 technology preparation area and 1 special educational needs (SEN) base. This project is devolved for delivery to the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (8 Apr 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. The DEIS programme is a key policy of government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. My department is investing over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a 750 pupil post primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State...