Results 2,841-2,860 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I welcome the opportunity to address Senators in the House. We are all aware of the challenges and difficulties faced by all sectors of society over recent months as we tackle the threat of Covid-19. Restrictions, although necessary, have not been easy and the burden has been particularly heavy on those who are most vulnerable. As Minister of State with responsibility for special education...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: It is hardly sufficient time to try to answer many of the queries, but I have done my best to try to take a note. In my opening remarks I repeated our collective welcome that students with special educational needs will start to return to their classrooms from Thursday of this week. This will be an important milestone from which we can build towards a full return for all students. I thank...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Government's commitment to special education has been clear from the start of this pandemic. It is the first time that the public health advice was not taken on board. This has been a difficult time for families of children with special needs and we must ensure we try to get all of them back to school as soon as possible. It is positive that some of them will be back into a school...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (4 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputies for their contribution. My understanding is that there are limitations around the Mill Road site, insofar as it can take a tranche of students for 2021 but not for 2022. It is possible to add two additional classrooms on the site without interfering with the play area. At a push, an additional two classrooms, making four in total, could be added but these would have to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (4 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Yes, I have heard both Deputies loud and clear, and I have noted their frustration and passion. I thank them for raising this matter on behalf of their constituents. It provides the Department with an opportunity to clarify the position on the proposed interim move of Drogheda ETSS from its existing location on Mill Street to the State-owned Louth and Meath Education and Training Board...

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

Josepha Madigan: A significantly expanded Summer Programme was provided in 2020 for children with the complex needs as a discrete response to Covid-19. The programme included a number of strands and options from which parents could choose, involving either in-school, or home-based supports by teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to help to prevent regression among children with SEN. The...

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

Josepha Madigan: I acknowledge it has been a challenging year for those working in education and also those pupils with complex needs who have experienced the impact of school closures and the cessation of in-person teaching and learning in a very considerable way.    I appreciate and recognise the significant efforts schools are making to provide effective remote teaching and learning...

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

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.  In this year's budget, more than 20% of the total Education Budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special needs, an increase from €1.9bn last year. The National Council for Special...

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

Josepha Madigan: A core recommendation of the National Council for Special Education’s (NCSE) Review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme concerned a change in the way that SNAs are allocated to mainstream classes in both primary and post primary schools and called for the greater proportion of SNAs in these classes to be allocated on the basis of an educational profile of each school before the...

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

Josepha Madigan: I was pleased to announce, on 1 February, that a plan has been agreed to allow for the return to in-school learning for children with special educational needs, at school primary level It has been agreed with relevant education stakeholders to initiate a phased return to in-person learning for children in special schools and children in special classes in mainstream primary schools. -...

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

Josepha Madigan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) continues to accept applications by schools for exception reviews of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations and each application will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis. A core recommendation of the NCSE Review of the SNA scheme concerned a change in the way that SNAs are allocated to mainstram classes in both primary and...

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

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together. In September 2018, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was requested to develop Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special...

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

Josepha Madigan: I wish to advise the Deputy that for the 2019/20 school year there were 8,224 pupils enrolled to special schools. All special schools are classified as primary national schools. There were also 10,328 pupils enrolled to special classes including 7,520 pupils enrolled to special classes in primary schools and 2,808 pupils enrolled to special classes in post primary...

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

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (1 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position on the provision of additional primary school places in Dundalk, County Louth. As mentioned by the Senator, in order to plan for school provision and to analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. It uses a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (1 Feb 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The building and planning unit within the Department has its own way of dealing with and forecasting future school places and schools. I mentioned the 314 school planning areas earlier on. However, I will bring what the Senator said today to the attention of the Minister for Education whose remit is over the building and planning of schools. There are 29 primary schools in existence in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Facilities (28 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I note what the Deputy says about Maynooth University and the 17,000 students who will attend it. I also note that Maynooth Post Primary School, which is the co-educational school I mentioned, has 1,120 pupils. There is quite a considerable amount of education going on in a very small, constricted area. That sort of collaboration and engagement between the relevant schoolgoing communities,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Facilities (28 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy will be aware that the property in which Maynooth Post Primary School was located until recently is owned by Kildare-Wicklow Education and Training Board, KWETB. The school is relocating to a new location. The property vacated by the school has been identified as the permanent location for the Gaelcholáiste, as the Deputy confirmed in his contribution. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (28 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children and young people who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am very disappointed that it was not possible to have in school teaching and learning for children with significant additional needs which was planned to commence last week until schools reopened fully. We know that many of these children find online learning very challenging. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for children with complex needs. Recent...