Results 2,661-2,680 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: A demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services took place over the course of the 2018/19 school year. The project was developed by the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive and managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education. The purpose of the project was to test a model of tailored...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I know that a phased re-opening of schools is particularly challenging for many children with special educational needs who have not yet returned to school and their families. The purpose of managing this cautious phased return is to continue to limit the mobility of the population and curb the spread of the virus. These further phases have been developed in close collaboration with education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I want to assure the Deputy that I am conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with complex special educational needs can be even greater. For this reason, special schools were prioritised to reopen on 11 February on a 50% attendance basis and a supplementary programme was also put in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (10 Mar 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, over 20% 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 (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom. In some circumstances this may mean the temporary removal of a child from the environment where the problems have arisen....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: 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 allocating special education teachers to schools. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Coverage (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The supplementary programme is intended to supplement the teaching and learning provided by the student's school and alleviate the impact of this period of school closure through the provision of 5 hours per week in-person teaching or care support to be delivered in homes. The programme must be delivered outside of the normal school day (i.e. evenings and weekends), so that the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department provides for a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, including autistic pupils, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education. As part of the €210m investment programme underpinning the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools, my Department provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: COVID-19 has negatively impacted across all aspects of society including in the area of education which has seen the closure of schools on two occasions. My Department has recognised that such school closures can have a particular impact on children with special educational needs and accordingly has – - Prioritised children with special educational needs for the earliest possible...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Qualifications Recognition (4 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: It is not a fair assertion that my Department and I do not care about treating SNAs well. This course provides the very first opportunity for many SNAs to engage with the theory and research-based practice which underlies their role. I accept that the training is not yet accredited, which is not to say that it never will be accredited. We have to start somewhere and this is very valuable...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Qualifications Recognition (4 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter today. I assure the House that the education of children with special educational needs is a key priority for this Government. The Government will invest in the region €2 billion this year in supporting children with special needs, which is over 20% of the total education budget. By the end of this year, there will be 18,000 special needs...

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I want to thank the Minister for taking the time to address some of the points that have been made on, what I hope can be, game-changing legislation for the betterment of all in our society. Indeed, his predecessor, and my former ministerial colleague, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, provided many Cabinet updates on the Bill’s composition...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Phase 2 of schools reopening has seen allPrimary and Post-Primary Special Classes reopened on Monday 22nd February with pupils expected to attend these classes on a full-time basis. Special classes at primary and post-primary level are supported in their return by the enhanced school teams put in place by the HSE and my Department. Updated guidance and information on the supports for schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Mar 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 SNAs and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Mar 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 SNAs and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Mar 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, over 20% 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 unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am very pleased to have secured agreement to open a new special school on the campus of the former Scoil Colm in Crumlin, Dublin 12. This is a much-needed development which will help to meet the demand for special school places in the area. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has identified that appropriate provision is currently required for approximately 40 special school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (4 Mar 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, over 20% 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 unprecedented...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Regarding the July provision, we are working on an enhanced programme for this year. We are obviously very concerned about the regression of children with special needs. Last year, some 24,000 children were eligible for the programme and about 14,000 actually partook. We hope this year to expand the programme even more, including the time allowed and also by expanding the categories of...