Results 4,541-4,560 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. I am particularly conscious of the impact that school closures have on children with special needs. I am particularity conscious of the impact school closures have on children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The total education spend will be approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 to 427, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced. The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Costs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: It should be noted by the Deputy that my Department does not initiate such proceedings and cases are generally only litigated where no potential settlement is acceptable to both sides and the Government's authority to decide issues of education policy is in question. My Department does not take lightly any decision to defend cases concerning children with special educational needs. Therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. I am particularly conscious of the impact that school closures have on children with special needs. I am particularity conscious of the impact school closures have on children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Budget 2021 increased the number of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts to over 18,000 by December this year. This represents an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available. The pay at entry of a new entrant SNA, inclusive of employer PRSI, is €28,821 so the estimated cost of 860 SNAs would be € 24,786,060.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The supplementary programme of in-person support is intended to enhance the remote learning experience for pupils with complex special educational needs during the school closure period. The four-week programme provides 5 hours per week of support (20 hours) which is intended to be delivered in the pupils home at evenings and weekends up to 30 April 2021, including during the Easter break....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 549. My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. I am particularly conscious of the impact that school closures have on children with special needs. I am particularity conscious of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Programmes (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. I am particularly conscious of the impact that school closures have on children with special needs. Building on the return to school in recent weeks of children in special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. I am particularly conscious of the impact that school closures have on children with special needs. I am particularity conscious of the impact school closures have on children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The current entry level qualification for Special Needs Assistants is set out in my Department's circular 0051/2019 which requires a FETAC level 3 major qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, OR a minimum of three grade Ds in the Junior Certificate, OR the Equivalent. This remains unchanged. While many SNAs have qualifications above the entry requirement, there are no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The supplementary programme is intended to supplement the teaching and learning provided by the student’s school and alleviate the impact of this period of school closure through the provision of 5 hours per week in-person teaching or care support to be delivered in homes. The programme must be delivered outside of the normal school day (i.e. evenings and weekends), so that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. Building on the return to school in recent weeks of children in special schools and in special classes at primary and post-primary level, the Government has decided on a phased...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Summer Provision 2020 was a discrete response to Covid-19 providing Education or Care Needs to pupils with complex needs during the summer. The programme aimed to re-establish the pupils relationships and connections with their schools and their peers as a basis for learning and participation and to help the child to re-engage in learning and social activities. The programme aimed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department put in place a supplementary programme to support the education and/or care needs of the estimated 23,000 pupils with complex needs enrolled in schools. The pupils who will be eligible include: - All pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes - Pupils in mainstream schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support (i.e. School Support...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Senator Dolan for raising this matter because it provides me with an opportunity to outline the current position as to the major building project for Scoil an Chroí Naofa, Ballinasloe, County Galway. I understand that this project is included in the Department’s construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan. The brief is to provide...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: As I said, I share the Senator's frustration in relation to this and I will bring the sentiments she has expressed in the Chamber to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the building unit. Obviously, the design team has to liaise in a close way with the school and the board of management to ensure we try to get this school built as soon as possible. As the Senator pointed out,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Is cúis áthais dom a bheith anseo inniu. Mar is eol dúinn, tá Seachtain na Gaeilge faoi lán seoil agus ba mhaith liom cúpla focal Gaeilge a úsáid ár dtús báire. Bímis bródúil as ár dteanga dhúchais agus úsáidimis í chomh minic agus is féidir. We have seen the challenges faced by students,...