Results 2,261-2,280 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 007/2019 for primary schools and 008/2019 for post primary schools set out the details of the model for allocating special education teachers to schools. The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 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: Education Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan:

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government has approved the provision of 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. This is an important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 321, inclusive, together. It is acknowledged that the closure of schools for extended periods on two separate occasions, over the past two years, due to COVID restrictions, has meant that this has been a very difficult period for our young people and students. These difficulties were often even more pronounced for students who have disabilities, or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced. The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government has approved the provision of 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. This is an important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the opportunity to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Before I respond to Senator O'Loughlin, I congratulate Senator Flynn on the passage of Second Stage of the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018 in the Dáil last week. It is important Traveller culture and history is embedded within the education sector. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. The needs of children with special educational needs...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I understand what the Senator is saying. However, it is important to note that the summer provision is an additional service provided by schools. Teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, and support staff work hard all year so it is not something we can mandate. All we can do is ask and encourage schools and, as I said, remove those barriers. This year we allowed flexibility in the time...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Deputy Niamh Smyth for the question. One of my stated action priorities is to support and develop the assistive technology scheme to ensure it is of most benefit to those who need it. This is something I am considering as the Minister of State responsible. As we know, specialist equipment is required by some children with more complex special educational needs to access the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Deputy Smyth is correct in stating the diagnosis is joint hypermobility syndrome. It is simply a matter of meeting the criteria demanded and required of this application process. The original application stated that her handwriting was good, for example. There was an element about her experiencing tiredness and issues in respect of carrying her school bag. If the criteria specifically...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her clarifying comments around the identity of the child that Deputy Smyth named. While I have not named the child, I am aware of the application. Once the criteria are set out, the appeal will be fully reviewed by the NCSE and the Department. Ultimately, the purpose of the scheme is to provide grant aid to schools to allow them to prioritise the type...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I do not disagree with the Deputy. This school inclusion model will make a significant difference. I will bring the Deputy's comments and contribution on the availability of therapists to the attention of the Minister of State with responsibility in this area, Deputy Rabbitte. Returning to the criteria for this region, it is important that there should be no overlap with existing in-school...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for her question. I note what she has said about the school inclusion model. It does give the appropriate supports to children with additional needs and it is best practice. It is based on the principle of providing the right educational, care and therapeutic supports at the right time for children with special education needs. Its purpose is to help these students...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: It is important to stress that the school inclusion modelvis-à-vis the therapeutic supports it will provide in school is not in lieu of HSE therapeutic supports but is to complement them. I am working on the assessments and waiting times for those assessments with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The Deputy has referred to the selection of a region and specifically mentioned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy will be aware that I recently requested the Department to arrange for a review of the policy on reading classes and schools. The review will be informed by the Department's Inspectorate’s research and development work which facilitates thematic review of provision and practice in schools. The work will involve visits to a number of education settings for children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In May the Government announced a package of supports to allow 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, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure. This range of programmes offered builds on the success of the expanded programmes that ran last year and incorporates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced. The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. The following sections of the EPSEN Act were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Jul 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 and special class and school places are at...