Results 2,721-2,740 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I appreciate what the Deputy is saying. Obviously, children with special needs were always a concern for the Government. That is why special schools originally went back on 11 February to 50% capacity. They are now, thankfully, at 100% capacity since Monday. Special classes have been back since 22 February and, as the Deputy knows, so too have junior infants up to second class. There are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I have spoken to Deputy O'Sullivan about this issue before. He is aware that several meetings took place last autumn between the Department, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, the school management and the Cope Foundation, which is a patron of Scoil Aislinn special school located on the Boreenmanna Road in Ballintemple, Cork. Those meetings explored the possibility of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I share his concern about the possibility of regression for children with special needs. Fortunately, children in special schools and special classes are now back full time, as well as junior infants up to second class. On 15 March, the other classes will also be back. Regarding the supplementary programme, it is a voluntary scheme that is open to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Chairman for facilitating the meeting today and inviting us to partake. I thank all members of the committee for their invaluable contributions, which also help us as Ministers in developing policy and ensuring we are on the right track on everything.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Senator Dolan for raising this matter because it provides me with an opportunity to outline the current position as to the major building project for Scoil an Chroí Naofa, Ballinasloe, County Galway. I understand that this project is included in the Department’s construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan. The brief is to provide...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2021)

Josepha Madigan: As I said, I share the Senator's frustration in relation to this and I will bring the sentiments she has expressed in the Chamber to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the building unit. Obviously, the design team has to liaise in a close way with the school and the board of management to ensure we try to get this school built as soon as possible. As the Senator pointed out,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The current entry level qualification for Special Needs Assistants is set out in my Department's circular 0051/2019 which requires a FETAC level 3 major qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, OR a minimum of three grade Ds in the Junior Certificate, OR the Equivalent. This remains unchanged. While many SNAs have qualifications above the entry requirement, there are no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 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: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. Building on the return to school in recent weeks of children in special schools and in special classes at primary and post-primary level, the Government has decided on a phased...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Summer Provision 2020 was a discrete response to Covid-19 providing Education or Care Needs to pupils with complex needs during the summer. The programme aimed to re-establish the pupils relationships and connections with their schools and their peers as a basis for learning and participation and to help the child to re-engage in learning and social activities. The programme aimed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department put in place a supplementary programme to support the education and/or care needs of the estimated 23,000 pupils with complex needs enrolled in schools. The pupils who will be eligible include: - All pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes - Pupils in mainstream schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support (i.e. School Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018. The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs including the need for training. A new national training programme for SNAs currently employed in recognised schools was developed on foot of the Review's recommendations. Following a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Costs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: It should be noted by the Deputy that my Department does not initiate such proceedings and cases are generally only litigated where no potential settlement is acceptable to both sides and the Government's authority to decide issues of education policy is in question. My Department does not take lightly any decision to defend cases concerning children with special educational needs. Therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have drafted new admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018. The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs. While SNAs are very much valued in the provision of care support, the Review recommended that a more broadly based set of supports was required including therapeutic supports. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 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 (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. I am particularly conscious of the impact that school closures have on children with special needs. I am particularity conscious of the impact school closures have on children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The total education spend will be 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) has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 to 427, inclusive, 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...