Results 5,101-5,120 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. My Department is very conscious of the issue of the language around autism, and this includes the use of the term “unit” to describe an ASD class. In this regard, the Department uses the term special classes instead. My Department will continue to emphasise the replacement of this word and seek to ensure that it is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (27 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1049 and 1050 together. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom. In some circumstances this may mean the temporary removal of a child...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. The NCSE, through its local network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organisers), is available to provide advice and support to parents on the possible placement options available to their child. For the 2021/22 school year, 2,132 special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (27 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools was deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year. The disruption prevented the delivery of the necessary training and information workshops to support the roll out of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jul 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 your question has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply. The NCSE manages the exceptional review process and handles each case...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jul 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. My Department does not have a role in making determinations in individual cases and accordingly your question wlll be forwarded to the NCSE for direct response. The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Very significant levels of financial provision are made to ensure that all children with special educational needs can be provided with an education appropriate to their needs. In 2018 my Department invested over €1.75 billion on making additional provision for children with special educational needs. Based on a 15% increase, the 2022 allocation would be €2 billion.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jul 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 500 SNAs would be €14,410,500.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Rights of People with Disabilities (9 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am aware of the requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the current legislation which supports the rights of children with disabilities to receive an education. The Government is committed to helping every child, particularly those with special educational needs, to fulfil their potential. The Education for Persons with Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Ensuring that every child including children with special educational needs receive an education is a priority for the Government and my Department. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels. The Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total educational budget on making additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 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: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are a key part of the support framework for the inclusion of children with special educational needs in education. By the end of this year, there will be over 18,000 SNA posts in the education system. SNAs work across the full continuum of education from mainstream classes through to the more specialist settings, special classes and special schools. In respect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (9 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 to 606, inclusive, and 608 to 616, inclusive, together. 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 are at unprecedented levels. The Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 Sep 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...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Deputy McDonald and her party throwing crass accusations across this Chamber represents the height of hypocrisy. We all know that people make mistakes. To err is human. That Sinn Féin would seek to bring down this Government on an issue about which there has been a full acknowledgement and apology is cynical in the extreme. The governance of our country at this crucial time is too...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Sinn Féin refused to take seats in Westminster at any point during negotiations on a deal, when its votes might have been crucial to avoiding a hard Brexit. Even now, Sinn Féin seeks to weaken this country's voice internationally at a time issues with the protocol and the future of the Northern Ireland Assembly are in the balance. That does not even start on the economic wreckage...

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

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy will be aware of my belief that children with special educational needs should receive their education in placements which are appropriate to their needs alongside their peers wherever possible unless such an approach would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or other children in the school.   This inclusive approach is consistent with the...