Results 1-20 of 16,190 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Review of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004: Statements (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to be here today to share the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act 2004 which was published last Wednesday. It is a significant milestone in our shared work to create a more inclusive and equitable education system. The report allows for a moment of reflection - a moment to honour the hopes that inspired this landmark...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Voluntary contributions are by their nature voluntary. It is up to each individual school to decide what it asks parents for. My objective as Minister is to ensure they have the support, funding and capitation they need for the day-to-day basics. That is why we recently increased the capitation. For next September, the rates for primary and post-primary schoolchildren...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. SNAs are an integral part of schools in supporting children and I acknowledge the work they do. By the end of this year, we will have more SNAs than we have ever had before. There will be more than 23,000 SNAs, including the 1,600 additional SNAs provided for in last year's budget. They are allocated through the NCSE and that is based on...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, this Government and my Department are committed to supporting our schools and ensuring that they have adequate funding. Capitation increased only in the last few weeks. This was secured in last year's budget. Any negotiations and agreements on next year's budget will be happening in the coming weeks. I am also interested in not only providing more supports for...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the Lobinstown-Newtown and Drumcondra active retirement groups. We are delighted to have them here today.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues who have contributed. Referencing another point that they made, separate to amendments Nos. 9 and 13, I fully accept that there are institutions or individuals who are not included in this redress scheme. It is important to note whether it was this particular scheme, the residential institutions redress scheme back in 2002, or even more recently, the mother and baby homes...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I apologise to the different crowds who came in who I did not see. I acknowledge Sheila, Mary, Miriam and Mary. I thank them for being here at every debate, as difficult as I am sure it has been for each and every one of them. I acknowledge so much of what we have spoken of here today, not just specifically Caranua or the redress scheme but the trauma, hurt and pain that has been...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I will not repeat what I said earlier. I thank colleagues for their engagement. This is something that has obviously been ongoing for some time. I appreciate how challenging and difficult it has been for colleagues and particularly for survivors. I again acknowledge Mary, Mary, Miriam and Sheila, who are here today. After the conversations we have just had, I am not sure there is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The organisation in question is an independent voluntary organisation governed by an independent Board. As such, the compensation of abuse survivors or the establishment of a redress scheme are matters for the organisation to determine. It receives some of its funding from the Department of Education and Youth and raises other funding through member subscriptions and fundraising. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am glad to inform the Deputy that the pay related matter referred to has been resolved and the teacher concerned can expect payment of arrears with the salary due on the 7th July 2025. The payroll section of my Department can be contacted using the online contact form available on my Department's website at

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Jun 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. Housing policy is a priority matter for Government, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Jun 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 for the Department of Education. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under the Education Act 1998, the legal responsibility for transferring patronage of a school rests with the current school patron in the first instance. A school patron may write to me as Minister for Education and Youth in relation to transfer of patronage of a school under their patronage under Section 8 of the Education Act 1998 and request that the patron register is amended...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: My Department uses a range of data sources when analysing the demand for school places, including enrolment data, child benefit data, census data, Local Authority population & housing projections and data on residential construction activity. As the Deputy may be aware, the annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question currently has a project at stage 4 under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This project will provide the school with three new science laboratories, two prep areas and a new design and communications (DCG) room as well as two mainstream classrooms by way of refurbishment of existing accommodation....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme to provide 1 mainstream classroom and a 2 classroom SEN base. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery. A Stage 2b Report (post planning) was received in April 2025. This report is presently being evaluated from both technical and financial standpoints in compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department does not hold data on how many schools offer swimming lessons. All schools are required to deliver physical education as part of the curriculum. Physical Education supports the development of physical, cognitive, psychological and social capabilities. 1999 Curriculum: The current Physical Education (PE) curriculum was introduced as part of the Primary School Curriculum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department does not hold data on how many schools offer swimming lessons. All schools are required to deliver physical education as part of the curriculum. Physical Education supports the development of physical, cognitive, psychological and social capabilities. 1999 Curriculum: The current Physical Education (PE) curriculum was introduced as part of the Primary School Curriculum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (26 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: At Junior Cycle all students undertaking a level 3 programme study a Physical Education specification designed for 135 hours engagement over the three years of Junior Cycle. The course offers a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it. Aquatics is one of the physical activities included...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their engagement. I thank, in particular, Senator Boyhan for his engagement on this particular section and these amendments. As he has outlined, I support the idea. We have followed through on having a review of the criteria for the educational supports that will follow once this Bill is enacted. As I outlined to the Deputy on the proposal for a review after one year,...