Results 2,861-2,880 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

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

Josepha Madigan: I am very pleased to have secured agreement to open a new special school at Scoil Colm. 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 places for students with autism and general...

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

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 164 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (27 Jan 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 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 this 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. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 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 this 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. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 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 this 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. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 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 programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 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 programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 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 this 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Jan 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 (27 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 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 intervention. The...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Deputy Andrews for his query. We issued 39 notices to various schools under section 37A of the Education Act because it is important where there is a dearth of places in a particular area, and I am aware of the issues in Dublin 4 and Dublin 6. With regard to these 39 schools, two notices were issued and we are now in the process of looking through the submissions. On-site...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question and for his non-adversarial and constructive approach, which is important. Whatever has happened in the past, we must move forward in a constructive way. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, does a lot of work on the ground with children with special needs. It has its SENOs, who are a close liaison with schools and families. That is...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy and I have discussed this particular dearth of special education provision in Cork on previous occasions and I can get him a written reply to his query. In Cork, we are planning a considerable amount of work this year because Cork is one of the areas that is most affected by a lack of special class and school places. As the Deputy knows, there is a mechanism under section 37A of...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I welcome the opportunity to address the House. It is important to acknowledge the challenges faced by young people with special educational needs, SEN, and their families at this time, as well as the staff who support them. These students have been at the heart of our commitment to ensuring that in-person special education could continue in some form during the current restrictions for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: Education workers including teachers and SNAs are essential workers. The administration of the vaccine and prioritisation of vulnerable or essential groups is a matter for the Health Service Executive. As the Deputy will be aware, the Strategy for the vaccine was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. I am very disappointed that work to support children with complex needs at this difficult time has not been able to proceed. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for children with complex needs. This matter has been highlighted not only by the families of the children themselves, but also by all the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am very disappointed that work to support children with complex needs at this difficult time has not been able to proceed. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for children with complex needs. This matter has been highlighted not only by the families of the children themselves, but also by all the partners in education and representative groups, in regular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am very disappointed that work to support children with complex needs at this difficult time has not been able to proceed. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for children with complex needs. This matter has been highlighted not only by the families of the children themselves, but also by all the partners in education and representative groups, in regular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (21 Jan 2021)

Josepha Madigan: I am very disappointed that work to support children with complex needs at this difficult time has not been able to proceed. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for children with complex needs. This matter has been highlighted not only by the families of the children themselves, but also by all the partners in education and representative groups, in regular...