Results 5,761-5,780 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (11 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Earlier this month, the Government announced the Summer Programme to allow all primary and post-primary schools to offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. The total funding available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million. The programme was developed following extensive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this important matter. Suffice to say that the timeline for SNA allocations is always May. Work is ongoing at present on the SNA allocations and they will be announced this month, as promised. There will be no deviation from that, and certainty will be given to SNAs and schools in terms of their re-allocation. We are specifically...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: As I stated in my first contribution, we indicated that the SNA allocation would take place in May, as it always does. That is the timeline for allocations and it is done on the basis of ongoing collaboration with our education partners and everybody else. The SNA allocation will be announced by 31 May. It is important to consider the front-loading model when we are talking about the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy needs to be aware that this decision is not solely for me, as Minister of State with responsibility for special education, or the Minister for Education to take. There are a lot of moving parts when making a decision of this nature. We have stated previously that the allocation will be made in May. That gives certainty to schools as they know an announcement will be made on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this question around summer provision, which is on the minds of many schools, parents and families. It is very much looked forward to by children with additional needs and their families. We are encouraging as many schools as we can to participate this year in the summer provision programme. As the Deputy will know, all 4,000 schools are eligible to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The inspectorate reviewed SEN provision last year and provided a report which was shared with stakeholders and used to inform this year's summer provision. The findings from last year indicated primarily that the programme was very beneficial and successful. We wanted to build on that to inform this year's summer provision. Schools can have as many pupils as they have capacity for. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I understand that last year the majority were paid before 7 October, once they had fully completed their form. Most were paid by 28 October, while 76% were paid by 11 November and those in the bands by 25 November. As the Deputy mentioned, this year, for the first time, there will be an online claims system for schools to submit payment details for those staff taking part in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: In 2018, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, published a comprehensive review of the special needs assistant scheme. It advised that there should be adequate and comprehensive training for SNAs. I mentioned this earlier to Deputy Ó Ríordáin. The first SNA course was established in UCD and five different modules were offered over ten months. Some 3,500 people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I appreciate that this is a matter the Deputy has raised with me previously and we have discussed it on other occasions. It is important to stress that the review process for the SNA contract will begin in the next two weeks. That is my understanding. That will be helpful for progress. The Department has agreed to review the contract as part of Building Momentum. It is of the view that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I do not accept that the Department is putting this matter on the long finger. As I said, while the training might be slightly dismissed-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I did not say it has been dismissed by the Deputy necessarily but that it can be slightly dismissed. The training is very important for SNAs. It is important that we look at the outcomes and findings to enable us to inform the review which, as I have said, will take place in a couple of weeks. The Deputy says he would like it to be done now. There are lots of things we would like to have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Minister and I were delighted to announce this year’s summer programme. It is anticipated that it will support up to 48,000 children with special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage. It is on the back of the supplementary programme and the Covid learning support scheme. We know that these children suffered significant regression...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The summer programme is not about pitching one category against another and I know the Deputy is not saying it is, but it is important I say that for the record. This is not about the location of where children are or their backgrounds; this is about their levels of need. The schools have indicated they will be welcoming of Ukrainian and all migrant children and I accept their bona fides in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: They are. Children who have complex needs in mainstream education are eligible, as are special classes and schools. They are fully supported. First, is the funding of €40 million, which is important, and there is an extra week's pay for staff, so that represents double funding to incentivise them. There is also extra and enhanced funding for special schools and special classes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy and I have spoken about Dublin 12 and special classes there on a number of different occasions. From a general perspective, we have increased the amount of special classes since 2011 by 386%, which we can all admit is significant, although that is not to say there are no pinch points, particularly in Dublin, Cork and other areas. This year we opened 269 classes and next year we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: That planning for special education provision is one of my raisons d'êtrein the Department. The National Council for Special Education, which I have to hold to account in its planning for current and anticipated demand, is critical, and that is primarily done through the special educational needs organisers, SENOs, even though there can often be a narrative that it is under the section...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Last year the Department gave a commitment that all new schools that are built will automatically have SEN facilities and-or a sensory room if they need it. We should not have this issue every year where we are scrambling to facilitate children with special needs. As I mentioned earlier, based on current and anticipated demand, we have a forecasting model in place. The planning and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has an interest in the area of special education. As he knows, the most recent budget allocated €2.2 billion to the area, which is over 25% of the entire education budget. That is in recognition and acknowledgement of the importance of special education. The Government respects the fact that this is an area that needs funding, support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will answer the Deputy's follow-up question in a moment, but on the capital budget, €4.4 billion is available for the period 2021 to 2025. Schools can also apply for additionality in terms of accommodation through the additional school accommodation scheme. On demographics, population increases and provision for those coming from Ukraine and other migrant children as well as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: In response to Deputy Durkan, the forecasting model, particularly in the context of special education, is critical. Indeed, for all children, not just those with additional needs, that geographical information system is important in the planning and building unit. It is important there is capacity there, that we know current demand and can anticipate future demand when planning for schools....