Results 5,241-5,260 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In general, the Department of Education does not have a role in approving, commissioning, sponsoring or endorsing any content in any educational textbook or workbook. The current policy within the Department of Education is not to endorse any particular product or publication, including textbooks and workbooks. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary, determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Nov 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: School Discipline (2 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is aware of this case. My officials understand that there are conflicting medical recommendations in relation to the type of equipment to be used in the school to support the child’s attendance there. The local SENO is working with the School and the family and other services to resolve the matter and ensure that this child can access his educational placement. It...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. Next year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. The level of investment in special education, at almost €2 billion, is at an all-time high. An additional 269 special classes have been opened this school-year. This brings the total number of special classes nationally to 2,118. The new classes provide 1,600 additional places,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Special schools generally cater for children with the most complex needs. Accordingly, these schools have enhanced staffing levels with greatly reduced pupil/teacher and SNA staffing allocations. In general, speech and language and occupational therapy supports are provided by the HSE. On an ongoing basis, special schools also have access to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (4 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Senator Currie for her acknowledgement of the resources provided for in the budget. As the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, it was very important to me that we put extra resources into children's additional educational needs of which we are aware there is a whole spectrum. Some 90% of children with additional needs are in mainstream education. If a child...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (4 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I should clarify that in general, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and behavioural therapists come from the HSE. The NCSE can sanction it. The most important aspect is that there is engagement and discussion, and the fact that the NCSE is going out next week and will offer a bespoke solution for the school. It is important that the Senator has highlighted the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. Next year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The recruitment of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) is a matter for the National Council for Special Education.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Nov 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 (3 Nov 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 (3 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. Next year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In line with the Government’s plan COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting the rest of our society and economy is now fully reopened as we learn to live with Covid-19. It remains a key objective of the plan for living with COVID-19 that our children and school staff can attend school safely. Further school closures are not envisaged during this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (4 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293, 294 and 296 together. My Department's Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention. The Home tuition scheme for 2020/21 at primary ended on the 25thof June...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (4 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention. Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (4 Nov 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention. The application forms and related Circular for the 2021/22 scheme were published on the 7thJuly 2021. The Home Tuition Application...

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

Josepha Madigan: Earlier this year, the Department announced the provision of a 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. Teachers and SNAs who were employed in the school based programme were paid on or before 7thOctober. As in previous...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Nov 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 SNAs and the...

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