Results 2,681-2,700 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

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

Josepha Madigan: Deputy Andrews made a number of assertions and 23 seconds is not a lot of time in which to try to respond to everything. I take umbrage at the statement that we or the Department do not care about children with additional needs, because that is far from the truth. In recognition of that, for the very first time this Government has appointed a dedicated Minister with responsibility for...

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

Josepha Madigan: I would mention to Deputy Cathal Crowe that that is a HSE matter and I will pass it on to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. Obviously the supplementary provision is in place, the supplementary programme which will assist in terms of supports. I would say to Deputy Higgins that we have not under any circumstances turned our back on children with special needs. It has always been my...

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

Josepha Madigan: On early intervention, that matter is under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. I can write to him about it. On SNAs in general, we now have 18,000. Their numbers have increased by 78% since 2007 and many children with additional needs simply cannot function at all without an SNA so it is very important they are supported...

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

Josepha Madigan: To clarify, I obviously cannot comment on an individual case but I will write to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and bring it to his attention on the Deputy's behalf.

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

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for her questions. It had been planned that the front-loaded allocation model for SNAs would be rolled out to all schools from the commencement of the 2021 school year. Due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 crisis, including the closure of all school buildings in March 2020, it was decided that the introduction of the model would be deferred. This will allow time...

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

Josepha Madigan: On ASD units in schools, I want to reassure Deputy Niamh Smyth that since 2011 we have increased the number of ASD units by 235%, from 548 in 2011 to 1,836. There are 197 new special classes in 2020-21, 189 of which are for ASD pupils. There are 12 early intervention classes. Some 113 of the new special classes are for primary schools and 64 are for post-primary schools. There will be...

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

Josepha Madigan: On the issue of children with SEN in mainstream education, it has always been our position that special education should be given priority in the reopening of schools. We know about the risks of regression for those who cannot engage in distance learning. We have said this repeatedly since the start of the year and this priority has not changed. The National Public Health Emergency Team,...

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

Josepha Madigan: No problem.

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

Josepha Madigan: Táim buíoch as ucht an deis labhairt faoi chúrsaí oideachais speisialta. Táim ag súil go mór le ceisteanna na Baill. We are one year on from the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland. The past 12 months have been unexpected, challenging and unprecedented for all parts of our society. I do not have to tell anyone that. We see it every day and we hear the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (3 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 (3 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (3 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. A total of 63 SSLD special classes in mainstream primary schools have been provided for the 2020/2021 school year. This compares to 60 such special classes in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: 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 is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels. My Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total educational budget on making additional provision for children with special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 426 together. Phase 2 of schools reopening has seen all Primary 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I know that a phased re-opening is particularly challenging for many children with special educational needs who have not yet returned to school and their families. The purpose of 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 stakeholders and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. I am particularity conscious of the impact school closures have on children with complex special educational needs and their families. 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 place. All special classes returned to in-school learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (3 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 (3 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...