Results 5,201-5,220 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department aims to ensure that all children with special educational needs are provided with an education appropriate to their needs. Where possible, children with special educational needs are educated in mainstream classes alongside their peers unless to do so would not be in the best interests of the pupils concerned or the other pupils in the class. This approach is consistent with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (12 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. Equipment is provided under this scheme for children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is in ongoing contact with the management of this new school regarding the phased transition of the students to the school, now that the building works have been completed. Very significant progress has been made in establishing this new school, recruitment of teachers and SNAs and reaching out to parents of the children enrolled. I am very pleased that the first group...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am very pleased to mark one of the largest special education budgets we have ever seen in the history of the State and a really big investment in core education supports. Next year we will spend in excess of €2 billion, or more than 20% of the entire departmental budget, on special education, representing a 50% increase since 2011. Budget 2022 will provide 980 special education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 Oct 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: School Staff (13 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no facility to carryover SET hours from one school year to the next. Hours accumulated in any given school year must be utilised in the same school year. Where hours were accumulated due to a school receiving a backdated increase to their Special Education Teaching hours, or due to a Special Education Teacher being used to cover substitution, as an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 sets out the vision for the education of children with disabilities in this country. The Act requires that a child with special educational needs should be educated in an inclusive environment alongside their peers unless the nature and extent of those needs would not be in the best interest of the child concerned or the other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 Oct 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...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Tánaiste does not interrupt you, Deputy Ó Broin.

Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Statements (20 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. Dr. Catherine Day and the 99 assembly members should be commended on their work on and dedication to producing this report in the most challenging of circumstances. Their work may have come to an end but this report marks the beginning, or in some areas the continuation, of our efforts to set...

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

Josepha Madigan: Investment in special education is an ongoing priority for this Government.  Budget 2022 provides for the creation 980 new teaching posts in special education.  This new investment is required to meet the needs of students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes; students to be enrolled in new special classes and new special school places and the needs of new...

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

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 132 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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the planning and cordination of education...

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

Josepha Madigan: The correspondence referred to raises many issues on education provision and the needs of schools and teachers in responding.   My Department aims to ensure that all children with special educational needs are provided with an education appropriate to their needs. My Department’s policy is that students with additional needs should be included where possible and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (21 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will always endeavour to respond Topical Issue matters that are relevant to me. This matter is partly the responsibility of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. The special education element comes under my remit. I recognise the challenge that schools are facing regarding the wider issue of substitution. I will come to the special education...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (21 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: On the question of substitution in general, I have outlined the measures being taken. There is the question of hours being lost. One of the schemes we introduced is the Covid Learning and Support Scheme, CLASS, at €56.2 million, which is to help children who lost time during Covid-19. That is in addition to the summer provision and the supplementary scheme at Easter. If children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Special Education Home Tuition Grant scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available.  The scheme also provides for early intervention for children with Autism. The application forms and related Circular for this year’s scheme were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Oct 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, special class and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department provides funding to schools towards the cost of assistive technology for students in Primary, Post Primary and Special schools as set out in Circular 0010/2013, details of which are published on my Department’s website, and can be accessed at:  .   The type of equipment provided under the assistive technology scheme is varied, and includes audiological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Oct 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. Equipment is provided under this scheme for children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist...