Results 1,461-1,480 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation (5 Feb 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 2 Mainstream classroom, 1 Technology room and a Preparation Area, 1 Science Laboratory and Preparation area, 1 Art room and Project Store and a 2 Classroom Special Education Needs Base under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The project was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Enrolments (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: It is an absolute priority of my Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case. My Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in the Galway City School Planning Area, in managing and effectively coordinating their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide 1 Technology & Prep area and a 3 classroom SEN base. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. A stage 1 report was received in Q3 2024, this was reviewed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Education and Training Provision (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Cavan Part Time Education Support Centre (ESC) was removed from the registers of ESCs in January 2022 due to failure to convene a management committee. This was following extensive engagement between my Department, the chairperson of Cavan part-time ESC and the chairperson of Monaghan ESC who were the full time ESC associated with Cavan. Cavan is part of the region covered by Monaghan...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Costs (5 Feb 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 Public Expenditure and Reform: School Equipment (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme was launched in November 2023. The scheme provides eligible schools with up to 6 kilowatts peak of roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on their roofs, which equates to approximately 14 solar panels. Since the launch of the first phase of the programme late last year, more than 1,100 schools have been approved for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the post primary payroll section of my Department, has sent to the teacher concerned, details of his service history in respect of the schools whose staff members are paid on the Department of Education payroll. My Department provides a payroll service in respect of the salaries of post primary teachers who are employed in Community and Comprehensive, or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) Leave is available to a primary teacher who has completed a department approved summer course only. EPV Leave is not available to post-primary teachers. The maximum EPV Leave entitlement in a school year is 5 school days, regardless of the number of summer courses completed by a teacher. An application for EPV Leave is subject to the prior approval of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Enrolments (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision-making authority for any school closure is the patron/trustees of the schools, subject to the approval of my Department. In previous budgets, reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools was prioritised which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including childcare and after school uses. My Department has recently published the Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours. These Procedures are available for each school to refer to for guidance in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Facilities (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for a new boiler and heating system in October 2024 which was immediately approved with all works completed and funding drawn down in December 2024. The school subsequently contacted the EWS team regarding its fire alarm and was advised to submit an EWS application in this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide 9 Mainstream classrooms (6 Prefab replacement) and a 2 Classroom SEN base. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. The Stage 2b Report was received by my department in Q4 of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Transport (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. this figure includes over...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Examinations (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Framework for Junior Cycle was introduced on a phased basis between September 2014 and September 2021. The Junior Cycle aims to provide students with learning opportunities that achieve a balance between learning subject knowledge and developing a wide range of skills and thinking abilities. Subject specifications and assessment arrangements were revised on a phased basis to reflect this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Children and young people have a right to have their voices heard and taken seriously in all matters that affect them. My department is committed to embedding a culture of participation of children and young people in policy development. A student participation unit was established in my department in April 2023 to help my department to make sure that the voices of children and young people...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 499 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the following staff are employed in County Clare, in respect of the areas of the Education Sector for which my Department has responsibility. Please note, whereas data can be provided on a per County basis, no indicators are available to identify local electoral areas within Counties, and this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: As of 29 January 2025, there are two special advisers attached to my Department for the purpose of assisting me in the performance of my duties as Minister of Education and Youth. Mr. Patrick Cluskey provides advice on policy matters and Ms. Cliona Doyle provides assistance with press and media matters. The salary scale for a Special Adviser to a government Minister is the same as the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Correspondence (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 480 together. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the and in line with the The Teaching Council is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland. Their role is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching. They do this through the statutory registration of teachers, ensuring a highly...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation (5 Feb 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 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...