Results 4,841-4,860 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a Covid-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021. This is an incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: As Minister, I have powers under Section 37A of the Education Act to direct a school to provide additional places but this power is only used as a last resort and where all reasonable efforts have failed. This legal power to compel schools to provide additional places is only used where the following criteria apply: - there is established need for additional places in an area -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department previously funded 13 centres through an ABA pilot scheme for the period 1999-2011.  All of these centres applied for and were granted recognition as Special Schools for children with Autism and now form part of the network of special schools. A transitional agreement was put in place between the Department and Patrons of these schools to manage this process. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.  This year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs.As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly, the question has been referred to the NCSE for direct reply. The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for the Government.   The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are at unprecedented levels.  My Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total educational budget on making additional provision for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Facilities (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. To put this issue in context, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, with data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Due to an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Facilities (18 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I completely agree with the Senator. This issue needs to be expedited, particularly if it has been going on since 2019. However, the Senator will appreciate that the negotiations do not involve just one party. Discussions are ongoing with Fingal County Council as well as with the landowner and these preconditions need to be teased out and deliberated upon. We need to see if commonalities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (19 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a Covid-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021. This is an incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (19 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. In recognition of the fact that remote learning is particularly challenging for children with complex special educational needs, my Department put in place the supplementary programme in February to support the education and/or care needs of pupils with complex needs during the period of extended school closures and phased reopening. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (19 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department previously funded 13 centres through an ABA pilot scheme for the period 1999-2011. All of these centres applied for and were granted recognition as special schools for children with autism and now form part of the network of special schools. A transitional agreement was put in place between the Department and Patrons of these schools to manage this process. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (19 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a Covid-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021. This is an incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the...

Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel: Statements (20 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Deputies for their statements on this issue. I would like to restate the Government’s deep concern at the intensification of violence in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel over the past week. We are all in agreement that now is the time for de-escalation and we must encourage all efforts to reach a ceasefire. We cannot ignore the fact that these events are terrifying for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a Covid-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021. This is an incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are at unprecedented levels. My Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total educational budget on making additional provision for children with special educational...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: This is a matter under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Foley, but I am happy to outline the work going on. On the large scale capital building programme, 135 school building projects are ongoing which are at or have completed design stage. These include: Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg; Gaelscoil Donncha Rua; Gaelscoil Uí Choimín; Ennis Educate Together National...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I have no doubt the comments of the Senator will be brought to the attention of the Department, and I will certainly bring them to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley, who is in charge of the building planning unit. There is merit in much of what the Senator said. I have noted her comments on school ventilation, although it is just one of a number of prevention and control measures...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I hope to put this matter into context for the Senator. As she will be aware, enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for the Government. The principle of inclusive education is set out in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and embedded in the Department's policy for supporting children...