Helen McEntee
Meath East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are no new missions, so there is only so much we can partake in. In regard to UN requests over the past ten years, in September 2019, we had 14 Defence Forces personnel deployed to a UN mission in Mali as part of a joint operation with the German armed forces.”
“I thank the Deputy for his continued engagement on this matter. It is appreciated and I reaffirm our shared commitment to truth and justice, not least for Private Rooney, but in particular for his family.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I know he is committed to this issue; I am too. I have in recent months spent some time travelling to different barracks and Army bases and meeting with personnel. What I see all over the country is their professionalism, dedication and commitment.”
“I disagree that people are being pushed into the courts. The situation is exactly the opposite. I have said in the Chamber many times since I started taking these questions that the State Claims Agency is there and wants to mediate and work directly with people in order that cases do not go directly to the courts.”
“We are all committed to strengthening recruitment to and supporting retention in the Permanent Defence Force. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,823 personnel on 31 May, the most recent date for which we have a figure available.”
“It is the case that no mission is the same, so it is also a matter for the Defence Forces to assess and scope out the mission and then to decide whether it is a mission we can partake in. A question keeps being asked about what it is we would not be able to be a part of if we were to keep the triple lock.”
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“I appreciate this might impact the students who are currently in the school, as the Deputy mentioned. They are moving 9 km away. However, by the time the permanent school is built, the majority of those will have moved on. The class of 2027-28 will be new. However, the transition for those who are left will have to be carefully managed. The Department will continue to review this. As the Deputy said, we have to do that because demographics change over time.”
“I will outline the capacity that exists in that area. Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School was established for 1,000 pupils. It has 848 pupils enrolled at present. Edmund Rice College, which was established for 1,000 pupils, has 813 pupils enrolled at present. An extension planned for Castleknock Community College will provide approximately 200 additional places. That is essentially a school between the three colleges which have capacity. In addition, there is scope for further expansion in the existing post-primary schools should additional places be required. It seems the demand and need are in the Tyrellstown area, where 1,000 pupils are leaving the area to go to other schools. The intention was that this school would never be permanent. It was to be a temporary base until the new school was developed.”
“There are currently more than 1,000 post-primary school pupils leaving this area each day to attend school in other parts of Dublin 15. Ériu Community College, as the Deputy mentioned, was established in 2020 on an interim basis in Dublin 15. This was in response to the identified deficit of local capacity. My Department has determined that Hollywoodrath is the most appropriate permanent location for this school and will provide much-needed capacity in the Mulhuddart-Tyrellstown area, while freeing up capacity in other schools in Dublin 15. That assists in addressing the imbalance of post-primary school capacity across the area. I will refer to the other schools where we know there is additional capacity.”
“Furthermore, officials in my Department have an ongoing engagement with Fingal County Council in respect of planning new residential developments. Based on this available information and other elements, the school capital projects in the existing schools building programme are expected to cater for the projected additional school place demands resulting from such developments. My Department is satisfied there is no requirement for a new school in that area. However, it has established that there is currently considerable movement of Dublin 15 pupils out of the local communities in which they live to attend post-primary schools. This is most acute in the Mulhuddart-Tyrellstown planning area where enrolment numbers are significantly lower than the school-going population.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I appreciate, particularly in areas of huge growth, how important it is to have an adequate number of schools and schools adjacent to and near where students are living. That is the most important thing. My Department has a robust forward planning process which considers population and enrolment data. When it comes to the Dublin 15 area, the Department tells me there is sufficient post-primary school capacity to cater for the existing population. Looking ahead it is also making sure we are looking at projected population expansion, new developments and other people who may come into the area. One relevant indicator is that there are more first-year places available in the existing post-primary schools than there are sixth-class pupils living in the Dublin 15 area.”
“In this case, it will be done two years before the exams and there will be four papers for each subject, two papers at each level, in Gaeilge and Béarla. This means there will be 72 papers published. It is very important to show the type of exams, projects and assessments that will be coming down the line also. I am absolutely committed to supporting schools, school leaders, teachers and students to ensure they get the best out of this and are as prepared as they can be. This is a very important reform, as we all agree.”
“The most important thing here is that students benefit from the updated curriculums. In order to support teachers, I have asked my Department to intensify engagement. There are meetings happening on a weekly, if not biweekly, basis to ensure we look at how we can provide more and additional training, to ask if more resources need to be provided, to look at how we ensure that clear guidance is in place when it comes to AI and, above all, to ensure that teachers, principals, schools and, in particular, students are supported to avail of what I believe will be a very important transformation for them. There will also be the publication of papers at the beginning of April. Exam papers are usually printed the year before.”
“We have other programmes, in particular drama, film and theatre studies, where schools have to get cameras, lighting and audio, computer and staging equipment. All of these elements are being provided. Third, there is an issue or concern around artificial intelligence. AI is here and the technology is here to stay but teachers want to know how to use it and incorporate it into how students are working, as well as how they should assess it. There is guidance in place but my Department is working with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to ensure we have even more guidance prepared for our teachers.”
“I think our stakeholders have outlined a number of things clearly. First, they want to ensure teachers feel appropriately trained and equipped because they want to ensure they are giving their best and students get the best outcomes. A number of training programmes have been developed and delivered already and my intention is to try to intensify that and provide even more supports and resources for teachers. Second, it is about ensuring schools and equipment, particularly for the science subjects, are up to speed. While schools have been given a science implementation support grant, which means that some schools are getting funding ranging from €13,000 to €24,000, with our DEIS schools receiving an additional 10% uplift, I am looking to see if we can provide more to ensure our schools have the equipment they need.”
“In 2023, it was announced that the first tranche of two new subjects and seven revised subjects would be introduced in schools in September of this year. Therefore, the first class taking these new and updated subjects will complete their leaving certificate in 2027. The introduction of the new assessment models will help students to develop new skills and reduce the amount of pressure on students. This builds on what is already in place across 28 of the 40 curricular leaving certificate subjects. This is not new when it comes to the additional assessment component but we are trying to modernise and ensure that it applies to the vast majority of subjects.”
“What is also clear and what we all agree on is that we need to support our teachers and schools in rolling out that programme. I am absolutely committed to continuing the programme of reform of senior cycle to ensure that students benefit from up-to-date curriculums, more diverse skills development and assessments and that we also reduce stress levels. I am also absolutely committed to working with schools, school leaders and teachers in that regard. The world is changing rapidly and it is essential for all of us to properly equip students to succeed in this changing world. The approach to senior cycle redevelopment is about collaboration and engagement with our stakeholders and partners in education to try to deliver this. That engagement commenced back in 2016 and there has been detailed engagement and consultation since then.”
“I look forward to working with all colleagues, particularly in this area. I thank the Deputy for asking this question as it is an important and live issue, in particular for students who will sit the leaving certificate in the years ahead. It is for this reason that, in the last few weeks, I have met nearly all the unions and representative bodies representing teachers, principals, schools in general, boards of management, parents and, importantly, students. These conversations were not just about senior cycle reform. What was clear when it came to senior cycle reform is that we are all on the same page and want to ensure we have a senior cycle that is modern, fit for purpose and, above all, prepares our young people for the world we live in today.”
“I will ensure that this scheme is raised directly with the Minister. I repeat that it is a priority for the Government to make sure that we invest significantly in Uisce Éireann and its capacity to be able to do more work. We want to address as quickly as possible the challenges mentioned by the Deputy. We want to ensure that funding can be invested into communities that are experiencing these challenges. We also want to invest to be able to expand and build more and to support the expansion of newer communities.”
“I thank the Deputy and congratulate her on her election to the Dáil. Dunboyne College has expanded in recent years and provides an outstanding education to many in County Meath and the surrounding counties. Work has been under way to acquire a new site and that is progressing. Work is under way in the Department to make sure that the new build can be delivered as quickly as possible. I and all of the Deputies involved will make sure that everything is done to ensure that can be delivered as soon as possible and that more of the fantastic education that is being provided can be provided for the types of courses the Deputy mentioned, working in collaboration with the surrounding universities, such as Maynooth and DCU.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. In the past four years, almost €6 billion has been spent on capital investment in education. This includes opening new schools, expanding existing schools and using modular buildings where required. This is in response to the demand that exists and the increasing numbers of students going into primary and post-primary schools. We are committed to making sure this expansion continues and that every child gets access to the place they deserve in primary or post-primary school. I will work with all Deputies and every county to make sure the projects being developed go ahead, the need is met as soon as possible, and every child is accommodated.”
“While I am not aware of the exact investment that was allocated in recent weeks, investment in road maintenance and expansion has increased across the board. It is important that this continues to increase and that every local authority gets its fair share. Speed is the number one killer. It is very important that we maintain our roads, which play a key role in keeping people safe. We must everything we possibly can to reduce speeds on our roads and highlight where changes are taking place. Different changes are taking place throughout the country in reducing speeds. We need to make sure there is investment on both sides, in our roads and in making sure we reduce the speed levels, which contribute to so many of the deaths and serious accidents we have seen.”
“I also acknowledge the fantastic work of Local Link and the vital role it plays in our rural communities in particular. Unfortunately, I do not know the route the Deputy referenced but I will certainly raise this with the Minister for Transport and ask him to come back directly to him.”
“As a Deputy in a constituency that has three motorways, I am well aware of the burden that tolls place on people who are commuting to work on a daily basis. There is an overriding objective for all of us to try to ensure that we reduce the costs for people who are travelling to work. At the same time, we need to make sure that we are continuing to invest in our roads and infrastructure. I will relay the question on an actual reduction to the Minister. We would all like to see the tolls and costs reduced for all road users irrespective of where they are throughout the country.”
“This Government is committed to making sure we invest in our roads. That does not just mean maintenance and expansion but also making sure the roads that are committed to on our list are continued, progressed and finalised. In addition, with the review of the NDP, there is potential for new projects to be part of that expansion and list. I am not familiar with the stages and timelines for the road the Deputy mentioned but I will certainly raise the matter with the relevant Minister.”
“I wish the Deputy well and congratulate him on his appointment. I am aware of this issue. It was raised with me when I was in the constituency during the election campaign. My understanding is that this is very much on the agenda for Uisce Éireann and that work is under way and engagement is happening with stakeholders. The commitment I mentioned is that we will increase and expand the funding that is going into Uisce Éireann to make sure these kind of developments can happen as quickly as possible. The Government is committed to supporting these types of programmes and making sure they can progress as quickly as possible.”
“It is vital that we provide many forms of transport for people through public and private operators, through buses, the Luas, BusConnects and as many different ways as possible, including the expansion of our rail lines. I am not familiar with the specific route mentioned by the Deputy, but similar to the question from Deputy Devlin, I will endeavour to ask our Minister to see if there is something that can be done to fill the gap and to respond to and support the communities concerned, as well as the drivers and all those who were working with this company, as mentioned by the Deputy. It is the absolute intention of this Government that many forms of public transport will be available to people right across the country and not just in our towns and cities.”
“Apologies, in north Kildare. I think we share similar challenges within our counties as well, especially with our growing population, young population and proximity to Dublin. I assure the Deputy this Government is absolutely committed to ensuring we invest in north Kildare in communities where there is that growth and increase in population. We are committed through the expansion of the national development plan and the national planning framework, which we will be sending to the local authorities soon and to which we expect them to respond, to be able to increase our response to this demand. I refer to not just looking at housing supply but to investments in schools, in infrastructure and in our roads. North Kildare will be supported to do just that.”
“Additionally, the Deputy will know the programme for Government commitment is to ensure we will have a single application system to remove so much of the stress and anxiety placed on parents in having to apply to so many different schools and not necessarily getting an outcome at the end of it. That work is under way. I will work closely with the NCSE. The intention in this regard, obviously, is for this year. We need a system in place, though, to ensure that every year parents and children will know where they will be going and at the earliest stage possible.”
“I assure the Deputy it is a number one priority to ensure every child has access to the place they are entitled to, particularly those with special educational needs. I believe a great deal of progress has been made in recent years. I want to get to a point where every single child is offered a place at the same time as their sibling and every other child in their community. There is work to do in that regard, but it is my intention, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, that for this school year every child will have access to a place and have that in a timely manner.”
“I am aware that the route is closed and that this is a private contract. I am also aware that the Tánaiste has committed to writing to the NTA to see what possible measures or options could be put in place to service the towns and communities mentioned by the Deputy. Of course, I will again relay this information to ensure this happens.”
“It is certainly a question I can ask and relay to the Minister. The objective is that we do everything possible to put in place measures to prevent the type of destruction we saw in the last several weeks. I will certainly relay the specific timeline and the Deputy's request to the Minister.”
“However, if, at the end of that process - the DPP is independent - there are still questions that need to be answered, the Government has never ruled out a public inquiry, nor should it ever do so.”
“I acknowledge the absolute devastation that was caused by this explosion. I met with the families because I wanted to hear from them. I wanted to meet them because I want to make sure they get the answers they are entitled to and they deserve. The number one objective here is that families get answers to the questions they have asked, as they are entitled to. We also want to make sure something like this does not happen again. I was very clear in my previous role, as was the Government, that an inquiry was never being ruled out. However, it is really important that the work of An Garda Síochána continues. The Garda Commissioner who I spoke to, and indeed the gardaí I spoke to in Donegal, have done a huge amount of work to make sure a file can be prepared and it will be sent to the DPP.”
“One of the main things that will help to unlock many of the sites on which we want to build is making sure we have that infrastructure and that access to wastewater treatment and also, for the people who are already living in houses in their communities where there are problems, that we upgrade and invest as quickly as possible. That means money but also expanding on Uisce Éireann. There is a very clear commitment to expand the number of people working in Uisce Éireann, as I have mentioned, so that this work can be done as quickly as possible and those concerns can be addressed as quickly as possible.”
“I will respond to both points. In relation to the storm, a committee has already been established on a permanent basis to make sure all Departments and relevant agencies are prepared should something like this happen again. As I have said, the likelihood of that is quite high. What is Uisce Éireann doing? It is purchasing more generators and making sure sites are generator-ready. It will do anything more it needs to do. Separate to that, we need more investment overall. The Government is saying very clearly that we need more investment in wastewater treatment. That will happen. We are saying very clearly with the review of the NDP that we will focus on infrastructure. With the money we are spending through Apple, we will focus on infrastructure with housing being our number one priority.”
“We want to do more, we will do more and we are going to invest significantly so we can expand the infrastructure right across the country.”
“Uisce Éireann wants to increase them by an additional 100 generators which will be purchased immediately. On top of that, it is also accelerating its programme to make sites generator-ready. It is not possible to say we will have a generator on-site in every single area but we will ensure if it is needed that those sites are absolutely ready. I wish to compliment and respond to some of the Deputy's comments. We have quite a number of people working. There are about 3,500 people employed operating some 1,800 water and wastewater treatment plants; 4,100 pumping stations; 2,400 abstraction points; and reservoirs maintaining 90,000 km of pipeline. A huge amount of work is taking place by those in Uisce Éireann.”
“Regarding the storm and the response, I commend every person from the ESB, Uisce Éireann and beyond who responded to an unprecedented incident where we saw tens of thousands of people not just without electricity but also without water and power. What happened in response by Uisce Éireann was that almost 400,000 customers, through backup generation, had their service maintained. A huge amount of work was done to make sure that where possible we could maintain that service. For those who were out of service, it is now the case that service has been restored and it was restored as quickly as possible. What we are looking to do now in Uisce Éireann in particular is to increase the stock of mobile generators because we know these storms are not going to end.”
“I look at my own constituency in County Meath where for many years we had significant problems with water quality in the towns of Ratoath and Ashbourne and surrounding areas. With €40 million of investment into a new water tower, that issue has been resolved and we are starting to see challenges and problems like that resolved right across the country. What have we said as a Government we will do? We will invest even further. We said very clearly with the review of the NDP which will happen earlier this year that there will be a particular focus on making sure we invest in our infrastructure which very clearly includes our water. We have said very clearly prior to the election and since then that a significant amount of the windfall tax receipts, and also the Apple money, will be spent on investment in our wastewater treatment.”
“This Government has been very clear in stating that we need to invest more in our water system and that we need to do more to make sure towns, communities or villages which do not have access to the quality of water that they should get investment first and foremost. We must also ensure that sites are opened up and that in the delivery of housing in particular we have the investment and infrastructure needed to achieve the overall objectives, goals and targets we have set ourselves. For Uisce Éireann, we have set a very clear level of investment. There will be record levels invested in the period from 2021 to this year. There are commitments of almost €6 billion in capital investment, of which over €4.5 billion will be voted Exchequer funding for domestic water services. We are already starting to see the benefit of that.”
“It is absolutely the case that the HSE must, will and will always work within the relevant framework. That is absolutely the case. It is what we expect from the HSE and what we expect from those working in our public sector. Where issues and challenges arise, there are very clear frameworks and structures that must be adhered to and mechanisms which can be put in place to resolve any outstanding issues or disputes. We absolutely expect and insist, and it is the case, that the HSE works within any framework and works with those in our public sector and health sector and that is what this Government expects.”
“We, as a Government, will continue to invest in the overall capital spend but, above all, make sure the money being spent is being spent wisely and we get the best possible outcomes from it.”
“We need to make sure we continue to invest in our cancer care treatments and in other areas where we have seen significant progress. We are a country where people are living much longer and it is not by accident. It is because of the significant investment we are placing in our healthcare system, the advancement in technology, the expansion of overall services and the fact we are investing in new drugs, new technologies and new ways to treat people. In terms of the Deputy's specific question, the HSE, the head of the HSE and our Minister for Health will ensure every effort is made to work with those working in our health sector to be able to provide the best outcomes possible for the people who need the services and who use the services.”
“That is absolutely the intention of the new Minister for Health, and I commend her work at the early stages in identifying how we can make sure those resources are used in the most appropriate way, how and where there is really good practice taking place across our hospitals and across our communities, and how we can then replicate that, but doing so with our healthcare professionals and with our workers. As a Government, we will continue to invest in our healthcare system and we will continue to ensure our waiting lists are reducing. There was often a focus on how many people are on lists as opposed to the length of time people are on lists. We need to make sure we have as many people being seen as soon as possible and, where possible, those times reduce as well the overall numbers.”
“It is now higher than it has ever been and the clear objective now, as has been set out very clearly by our Minister for Health this week, is to make sure that with the significant investment that has gone into our health system, the significant investment in and expansion of the number of people working in our service and with a very clear assessment plan through Sláintecare that we have all agreed to, we get the best positive outcomes for those who use our healthcare system, be it in our communities, in our primary care centres, for those who attend our emergency departments or those who attend for scheduled care.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Similar to the delivery of our education system, the delivery of healthcare in this country can only happen with the support of fantastic people: from our consultants to our GPs to our nurses to our clinicians right across the system. That is why over recent years we have continued to significantly invest not just in our built infrastructure in the expansion of hospitals and bed places but also in the number of people we have working in our health system.”
“I fully accept that, were it to move at a quicker pace, there would be a significant challenge. There is momentum there. A lot of change has happened. At the end of this, we want young people to be equipped to respond to the world we live in. The exams are a key part of making sure that can happen. This will only work by working with teachers and I am committed to doing that.”
“I do and always will engage with our teachers because they are the only way this will happen and they provide our young people with the fantastic education they get. We have spent over €6 billion on capital projects since the beginning of 2020. I have said clearly to the unions that we will invest more, whether in science labs or in making sure more training is provided. I have asked my officials to engage further to see if there is more we can do to ensure we are prepared for the specific subjects for September and that teachers are prepared. I have made it clear two papers will be provided at the beginning of April; it is normally one. We are also making sure there is access to further training at the earliest stage possible. This will not happen overnight.”
“I want to ensure that, as this change happens and we have more additional assessment components and changes that test the various skills young people will need going into the world, it is done at a rate that helps young people and is supportive of our teachers. I know the Deputy and all the profession's objective is to ensure young people get the best education available to them.”
“We have the new transition year programme statement, transition year programme auditing tools, governance portfolios and micromodules, which means for the first time 60,000 young people can avail of transition year. We want that to be available to every student. There is the vocation education training module as well, and a huge amount of work has been done in terms of consultation on the initial brief. Business, biology, chemistry, physics, Arabic, Latin and Ancient Greek constitute the first tranche that will come in this September. This will not be a quick turnaround or a quick change; it will not happen overnight.”
“It is important that State exams reflect all this and equip and support our young people to go into the world we live in. Official engagement on senior cycle reform started in 2016. I appreciate the different stages have more recently come to the fore but official engagement started in 2016. It is important we get this right and engage with all stakeholders: principals, teachers, school leaders, boards of management and, above all, students. This year we are building on the work that has been done. We have the level 1 and 2 programme statements, which means that for the first time a senior cycle programme has been designed for students with specific educational needs.”
“That means for children from disadvantaged backgrounds that we build on and expand the positive and fantastic work of DEIS programmes and make sure, working with our youth partners, every young person has the supports needed to fulfil their potential. Bringing all of that together, we have to make sure that, irrespective of who the child is and their background, they are equipped to respond to the world we live in today. That is paramount. We need to make sure young people leaving school are equipped with the skills and ability to live in, work in and respond to the world we live in now, which has changed completely. The economy and the jobs we work in have changed. Technology has taken over so much of what we do in a positive way, yet there are challenges as well.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. I said when I was appointed to this role that my number one objective and goal was to make sure every young person - irrespective of their background, where they come from or what school they go to - is supported, and that our teachers are resourced and supported to help them achieve their full ability. That is my number one goal and priority. That means making sure children with special educational needs get the resources, supports and access to education they are entitled to - more special schools, additional classes, SNAs, training and support.”
“I introduced laws specifically recognising the fact that there is a significant problem when a young person decides to carry a knife or when a young person or any person thinks it is appropriate to carry a knife. That is why increasing sentencing was a priority for the previous Government and why making sure gardaí have as power much as possible to ascertain those knives is an absolute priority. On the final point, we are making progress and seeing more gardaí. I have said we need to go beyond 15,000 gardaí. In fact, we have a higher target than we set initially.”
“For the second time, I will repeat it for the people in the back who may not have heard my response to all Deputy Doherty's three questions. The Deputy might repeat what I have actually said over the past number of years. There are absolutely problems in our city centre and in every part of our country that we need to address. By addressing those, we can ensure every person is safe and feels safe in our towns, homes and villages. I have always said there are challenges. I have outlined all the things I have done and that our new, current Minister for Justice will do with the support of the Government to achieve those overall objectives.”