Results 6,421-6,440 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question, which is important, in particular for me as Minister of State with responsibility for special education. The NCSE works very closely with the Department, parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I am answering the Deputy's question because I am outlining to him the steps that are being undertaken, have been undertaken, and will continue to be undertaken, to ensure we have appropriate placements for the children. I will give him specific statistics if he wishes, but I want to outline to the House what we are doing in terms of forward planning, which is a critical component of making...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: This is not just about the forecasting model. These are the new initiatives that we have undertaken. These initiatives are bearing fruit. We will have 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level and almost 300 new special classes at post-primary level. We have had five new special schools over the past three years. We can see clearly that it has had a major effect on what we are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disabilities Assessments (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for her topical question. The AON process is provided for under the Disability Act and is under the remit of the HSE. The Deputy will be aware that there was a court decision and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is now required to assist the HSE purely in respect of the educational assessment of the needs of children who have applied to the HSE for an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disabilities Assessments (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: The INTO was involved, along with other education partners. In fact, it welcomed assurances from the Department in respect of the new process yesterday. It issued a press statement stating that it is important "the new process for reporting of education needs will not be used as a replacement for assessments undertaken by educational psychologists and other health professionals"....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disabilities Assessments (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: There is no stopgap. This is purely in relation to the educational component of the assessment of need, not the health component. The review in June and monthly monitoring will be important, as will engagement with the Department and NCSE. There are supports available for schools. There is detailed AON guidance and a short video, and there are also email supports and a health line. If...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. Obviously, planning in respect of special school placements does not relate only to Cork, but to the rest of the country as well. However, Cork and Dublin are probably the most densely populated areas, which has an impact with regard to forward planning. I am not sure if the Deputy was in the Chamber earlier on but I outlined some of the initiatives...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I completely understand that. There is extremely intense engagement going on with a lot of the special schools at present in terms of providing additional capacity. Some of the initiatives I outlined to the Deputy were for that very reason. Some of them will be able to add existing accommodation and reconfiguration to the schools that they have themselves. Three special schools have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank both Deputies for their contributions. There is a site as well in Glanmire which I may not have mentioned. There is agreement in principle in respect of that acquisition. It is being progressed through conveyancing with the Chief State Solicitor's office at present. There is a detailed breakdown on the NCSE website of what is there. I am aware of Deputy Stanton's particular...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for her question. There is real representation from Cork in the Chamber this morning. It shows the level of commitment but also of concern from the county and city on the part of the public representatives in respect of special education. It is important to stress that 92% of special classes are to support autism in general terms. That would apply to Cork as well. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I appreciate that the statistics are in the abstract and do not talk to individual families. Behind all of those statistics are individual families and individual appropriate placements. I allude to them simply to show the Deputy the progress that has been made but not to take away from the fact that a huge amount still needs to be done, particularly around post-primary education. That is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: This is something the Department is aware of. Other colleagues, including Deputy Stanton, have requested another special school in Cork as well. I mentioned earlier some of the initiatives that are being taken around forward planning because I am not convinced that it was done adequately in the past. That has been acknowledged and that was obvious because there were gaps. That is why that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: This was Deputy Ó Murchú's second question. His first question was specifically on Louth but I have no difficulty in taking this one. I met Fiacre Ryan last week, along with his mother. He has written a book, Speechless, which the Deputy is probably aware of. It is incredible for a non-verbal autistic child to write a book. His mother correctly made the point to me that just...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: This needs to be discussed in more depth with the Department. Officials in the Department are aware of the benefits of RPM but at the same time they say that there is no clear empirical evidence to underpin it and that the guidance suggests that a range of supports may need to be adopted for each child. Schools are not prohibited from using RPM but it will not necessarily be for every child...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: My understanding is that RPM is not prohibited in schools. If there is a particular school where there is an issue, perhaps the Deputy could let me or the Department know about it. RPM encourages those who are struggling to communicate to use techniques that include writing, typing or pointing. Other organisations might have concerns about this method, notwithstanding its successes for...

Report on the Summer Programme 2023: Motion [Private Members] (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Acting Chair for the opportunity to be with Members here today to talk about the summer programme. It has been a particular focus for me as Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion. In fact, I have had the pleasure of visiting many of the summer programmes and have seen at first hand the immeasurable difference this programme makes to children...

Report on the Summer Programme 2023: Motion [Private Members] (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I echo what the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte has said and I appreciate her support. I commend Senator Carrigy on his work and Deputy Buckley on sponsoring the motion. I thank both of them for their contributions and I thank Deputies Canney, Connolly, Michael Moynihan, Tully, Joan Collins, Ó Murchú, Funchion, Ó Cathasaigh and Conway-Walsh. I have taken a note of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6...