Results 4,921-4,940 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 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 given...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: 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 educational needs. The following sections of the EPSEN Act were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Special school staffing allocations are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE and special schools are staffed on the basis of each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (15 Jun 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, just under 25% 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 are at unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In accordance with the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 schools are obliged to report on school attendance, and data on non-attendance in primary and post-primary schools at the aggregated level are collected by Tusla through the Annual Attendance Report (AAR) and, also at the student level through the Student Attendance Report (SAR). This latest report published presents data for the academic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 822, 823, 824, 825, 826 and 827 together. A new model for allocating special education teachers (SETs) to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools. Over 13,600 SETs are currently provided to mainstream schools to support the learning needs of pupils who have additional needs in literacy, including those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy will be aware that Minister Foley and I have recently secured a significant expansion of special school provision in Cork through the establishment of a new special school and increased capacity in an existing special school to meet the needs of children in the Cork area. Priority will be given to those children who currently do not have an offer of a school place for next...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jun 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 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (16 Jun 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The new vaccination roll out schedule, which was recommended to government by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and endorsed by the NPHET, is that the remainder of the population after Group 9 will be completed on an age basis from those aged 64 years and younger, and that this decision will replace the previous groupings in the original plan. The evidence is clear that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: 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 educational needs. The following sections of the EPSEN Act were...

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Táim buíoch as ucht an deis labhairt inniú ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Covid-19 has impacted all parts of society, but we must remember that some groups have been impacted more than others. Those in society who require additional supports or have particular needs have found the past year to be more difficult than others. In opening this discussion, as Minister...

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am not.

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Yes. Some programmes are being run again this year, including numeracy and literacy camps in DEIS primary schools, a school-based summer programme in primary special classes and special schools. There will be home-based provision for students with complex needs where no school-based programme is available. New programmes are also being provided this year. All primary schools will have the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, I understand that the relevant support services and agencies, including NEPS and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are aware of the case and are working towards ensuring that the student can be reintegrated into a school placement. The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I will take this opportunity to outline the Department's perspective on this matter. Scoil Shéamais Naofa is a Catholic mixed all-Irish primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Galway. In September 2020, the school had an enrolment of 259 pupils. I understand that enrolments in the school have fallen by 9% in the past five years....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I will bring the Senator's comments and concerns to the Minister, Deputy Foley. I understand what he is saying about traffic management. This is a matter for the local authority, but we have to ensure the safety of children. That is critical. The Senator should bear in mind the demographic exercise that is being undertaken on projected growth. The fact that the decrease in demand for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Job Creation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am pleased to take this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. I welcome the recent risk report on unemployment blackspots by the Houses of the Oireachtas Library and Research Service. This excellent research does a great job at highlighting the concentrated nature of employment blackspots. It is particularly worrying, as the Senator said, to note that in 2016, 17...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Job Creation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator. I hear what he is saying. I know Limerick well. My grandfather originated from Limerick. It is a fantastic city and a fantastic region.I heard what the Senator said about the north side of Limerick and I will convey that to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. I was struck by what he said about particular black spots and unemployment in areas ranging from 58% to 39%....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a huge role in helping to ensure the inclusion of pupils with significant care needs in education and in school life.  This was acknowledged in the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018.  The Review made a number of recommendations regarding...