Results 6,301-6,320 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Transport in Galway and Other Areas: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank all Deputies for their contributions to the debate on a new vision for transport in Galway and other areas. In the motion and contributions from individual Deputies during the debate, we can see the range of challenges and opportunities that exist and the progress which has been made to date in reorientating our transport system towards...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (15 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: In 2018, the NCSE was asked by the then Minister to advise on the educational provision that should be in place for students in special schools and classes and to make recommendations on the provision required to enable them achieve better outcomes. The Minister requested that the NCSE examine whether there is local, or international, evidence that placement in specialist settings brings...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and wish to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. My Department provides funding to all recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and wish to advise the following:I as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, and my Department were very much involved in discussions over the summer period which ultimately led to the Government confirming in August that priority will be given to reinstate health and social care supports that were historically provided in special...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: 506. To ask the Minister for Health when his Department will issue further guidance to those who are not directly employed by the HSE with regards to the Covid recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56174/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: 507. To ask the Minister for Health when those who are not directly employed by the HSE but who are eligible for the Covid recognition payment can expect to receive their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56175/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disabilities Assessments (23 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment Officers under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the Assessment of Need.Following on from a court ruling in October 2021, there is now a legal obligation on the education system to assistthe HSE as part of the HSE’s Assessment of Need Process. The Department of Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: The provision of health-related therapy services for children with disabilities is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the question should therefore be directed to that body or to the Department of Health.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this. We debated a lot of these points already on radio. I did not get the opportunity to mention the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. I did mention the extra €30 million in funding that we secured for it in the budget, but the reason it is pertinent to this question is that the council will now be in a position to hire new special...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Regarding SENOs in Cork, I can make inquiries. There are 63 new special classes in Cork this year, out of the 600 special classes we opened in primary schools this year, along with the 300 classes in post-primary schools and five special schools opened over the past three years. In terms of numbers, it is critical that the NCSE is aware of children who require an appropriate placement, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: They are, of course, aware of the numbers. They change on a daily basis, as the Deputy can appreciate. That is why we have all of the forecasting measures, which I outlined to the Deputy. For the sake of the House, we are bringing forward a number of different strategic initiatives. The geographical information system, GIS, through the planning and building unit, is now sharing real-time...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. As he is aware, the AON process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment officers under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the AON. The Deputy will be aware of a court ruling in October 2021, which created an legal obligation on the education system to assist the HSE as part of the HSE’s AON process. That refers...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I understand there are still ongoing conversations on this matter and there is a commitment to extend the trial period. On principals or teachers being overburdened, as Minister of State with responsibility for special education, I acknowledge that schools are very complex organisations, as I have seen in the school visits I have undertaken. It is important that we acknowledge we are very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is important to be clear on the purpose of the AON process as it applies to schools. The assessment of educational needs requires schools to take information about a student that already exists, usually in the student support file in the school, and make it available to the HSE via the NCSE. The assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning and teachers assess their students...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: This is based on the NCSE's advice in its guidance document from 2021 regarding health professionals reports. In the first place, the report must indicate whether a child has a specific diagnosis, and then there must be some understanding of the complexity of the child's needs, what placement would be appropriate and the rationale for it. That is the NCSE's advice in that regard. An...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Given the passage of time since a pupil may have been assessed, it is common practice that pupils are reassessed ahead of transitioning to post-primary school. The assessment may assist both the pupil and the post-primary school in determining the most appropriate supports that are required for the pupil and how the school can best support the individual to integrate into mainstream classes,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will respond to Deputy Durkan first and then speak to the matter raised by Deputy Collins. As I mentioned in response to a previous question, 742 special classes in post-primary schools were opened this year but there are 1,803 special classes in primary schools, so there is already a gap in that regard. As I outlined, that is why I wrote the letter to all post-primary schools, stating...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is unclear to me why a SENO would say that there was capacity and that the child does not have a place. That does not make any sense to me and that is something that I can follow up with the Deputy afterwards and we can take it from there.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the NCSE with a total full-year investment of €13 million. This will allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to reassure him that enabling all children, including children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. Firstly, in relation to the provision of mainstream school places, as the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department...