Results 2,341-2,360 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jun 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: Special Educational Needs (22 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Education teachers support the mainstream class teacher by providing additional teaching support for pupils with special educational needs, or additional learning needs, in schools. DES Circular 007/2019 for primary schools and 008/2019 for post primary schools set out the details of the model for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (22 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy will be aware of my belief that children with special educational needs should receive their education in placements which are appropriate to their needs alongside their peers wherever possible unless such an approach would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or other children in the school. This inclusive approach is consistent with the provisions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I will take this opportunity to outline the Department's perspective on this matter. Scoil Shéamais Naofa is a Catholic mixed all-Irish primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Galway. In September 2020, the school had an enrolment of 259 pupils. I understand that enrolments in the school have fallen by 9% in the past five years....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I will bring the Senator's comments and concerns to the Minister, Deputy Foley. I understand what he is saying about traffic management. This is a matter for the local authority, but we have to ensure the safety of children. That is critical. The Senator should bear in mind the demographic exercise that is being undertaken on projected growth. The fact that the decrease in demand for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Job Creation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am pleased to take this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. I welcome the recent risk report on unemployment blackspots by the Houses of the Oireachtas Library and Research Service. This excellent research does a great job at highlighting the concentrated nature of employment blackspots. It is particularly worrying, as the Senator said, to note that in 2016, 17...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Job Creation (21 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator. I hear what he is saying. I know Limerick well. My grandfather originated from Limerick. It is a fantastic city and a fantastic region.I heard what the Senator said about the north side of Limerick and I will convey that to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. I was struck by what he said about particular black spots and unemployment in areas ranging from 58% to 39%....

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am not.

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Yes. Some programmes are being run again this year, including numeracy and literacy camps in DEIS primary schools, a school-based summer programme in primary special classes and special schools. There will be home-based provision for students with complex needs where no school-based programme is available. New programmes are also being provided this year. All primary schools will have the...

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Táim buíoch as ucht an deis labhairt inniú ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Covid-19 has impacted all parts of society, but we must remember that some groups have been impacted more than others. Those in society who require additional supports or have particular needs have found the past year to be more difficult than others. In opening this discussion, as Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (17 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: In relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, I understand that the relevant support services and agencies, including NEPS and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are aware of the case and are working towards ensuring that the student can be reintegrated into a school placement. The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (16 Jun 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 incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The new vaccination roll out schedule, which was recommended to government by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and endorsed by the NPHET, is that the remainder of the population after Group 9 will be completed on an age basis from those aged 64 years and younger, and that this decision will replace the previous groupings in the original plan. The evidence is clear that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 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: School Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: A new model for allocating Special Education Teachers to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools. There are currently 13,623 Special Education Teachers allocated to mainstream primary and post primary schools, at a cost of approximately €817 Million per annum, for a full year cost. This allocation represents an increase of 40% in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The School Inclusion Model (SIM) is based on policy advice from the National Council for Special Education based on the principle of providing the right support at the right time delivered by a range of personnel with relevant qualifications and skill-sets. Its purpose is to help students achieve better outcomes. Independent evaluation is a central part of the project and the outcome will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Special school staffing allocations are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE and special schools are staffed on the basis of each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (15 Jun 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 incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the...