Results 321-340 of 1,107,836 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Jackie Cahill OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Marc MacSharry OR speaker:Paul Murphy)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Edward Timmins: 93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the roll out and installation of solar panels in schools, if there are plans to work the ESB in relation to prioritising schools for installation or adjusting the payment rate for schools without smart metres to sell electricity back into the grid (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40201/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Edward Timmins: A little over a year ago, as the Minister knows, the Government started to roll out a scheme of supplying free solar panels to schools. This is a very worthwhile initiative. However, there is a problem. Many schools do not have smart meters, which means they cannot sell excess electricity back to the grid. This installation is taking way too long. I know of a school that will not get a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. The schools PV programme is funded by the Government’s climate action fund in line with our recognition that taking action on climate change is central to our social and economic development. It is assisting schools in reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 climate action plan targets for the schools'...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Edward Timmins: I thank the Minister. The schools are currently given a 25% credit at, say, 18 cent per kilowatt hour. The schools are closed most of the year. Their generation during this time is huge, and more so since they are closed during much of the peak solar times in the summer. The other issue is that the 10 kW roll out is too small for many schools. They require a much greater coverage of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: This is something that has been brought to my attention before in some of the schools I visited, especially in larger schools, where I have been asked whether they could get more solar panels for all the reasons the Deputy outlined, including to help to reduce costs and ensure the system is appropriate to the scale and size of the school. The scheme's structure was put in place some time...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Edward Timmins: On a related matter, this programme can help with the running costs of primary schools. Schools have severe financial difficulties. Many schools are in deficit. I have seen how the ancillary grant, for example, does not cover the cost of caretaking. Could this be increased to match the cost? Additionally, I believe we need to look at increasing the capitation grant further from the new...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: There are two objectives to the installation of the solar panels. The first is to help us to achieve our targets and ensure the schools and the Department of education play their roles in helping to achieve our 2030 and 2050 targets. Second, this is also a real opportunity for us to help to reduce costs for the schools. Many of the schools have just installed solar panels, the 44% that are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Jul 2025)

School Curriculum

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Jul 2025)

Edward Timmins: 94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to review the transition year programme to include practical life skills as part of the compulsory requirement across all schools: personal legal rights, household management, personal finance, taxation and social welfare and the driver theory test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40202/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Jul 2025)

Edward Timmins: We have a great secondary education system. It is one of the cornerstones of our success as a nation. However, given it is largely academically-based, we need to look at ways of bringing life skills to our children that will better prepare them for the real world. In particular, I refer to the transition year programme. This is a great programme which offers students an opportunity to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (17 Jul 2025)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister and am delighted to hear her answer. I welcome this scheme; it is a great one. Even the rate of take-up the Minister outlined is impressive and is key to meeting our climate targets. It allows schools, as much as the rest of society, to address their emissions and reduce their carbon footprint. The Minister said fee-paying schools and private schools, and we must...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I agree fully with the Deputy. We should be getting to a situation where all our schools and public buildings have solar panels, insofar as is possible. This will feed into our overall reduction and climate targets but also will support our schools in reducing their costs. This is one of the biggest challenges we currently face in making sure we identify ways schools can reduce their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (17 Jul 2025)

Barry Ward: I am very grateful to hear the Minister is open to the expansion of this scheme. I appreciate what she has said. I believe the take-up would be strong among all schools if the eligibility criteria were extended. I understand entirely that no resource is infinite and the Government has to spend money where it is needed most. I welcome the Minister's commitment to engaging with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I accept what the Deputy is saying. It is not always the case that a fee-paying school has infinite resources. However, it is the case that some schools do have the ability to pay for this. It is about looking at the resources we have and ensuring everyone can benefit from the changes which will not just help support our climate objectives but also help reduce costs. In the time I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (17 Jul 2025)

Question No. 89 taken with Written Answers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (17 Jul 2025)

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (17 Jul 2025)

Colm Burke: 91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the progress of the €5 million pilot programme of counselling and well-being and mental health supports for the academic years 2024-25; to provide a breakdown of the progress in Cork in particular; if there are plans to expand the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40008/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (17 Jul 2025)

Colm Burke: I ask the Minister for to provide an

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (17 Jul 2025)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Burke for raising this matter. This is an important pilot programme that has been rolled out. My Department is committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our children. In 2023, the establishment of a €5 million pilot programme of counselling and mental health supports for primary schools was announced. In budget 2025, the pilot received additional funding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (17 Jul 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister and welcome the success of this scheme. I am concerned, however, about whether it will continue. On Monday last, I met with Barnardos in Knocknaheeny in Cork where a programme is based. As the Minister will know, Barnardos total budget for the year is approximately €15 million. It gets €12 million through Tusla and there is a shortfall of approximately...