Results 941-960 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: The information requested is not held by the Department of Education. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is under the remit of the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Questions in relation to the ECCE programme should be directed to that Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. For 2022, my Department will spend in excess of €2.3 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is unclear to me why a SENO would say that there was capacity and that the child does not have a place. That does not make any sense to me and that is something that I can follow up with the Deputy afterwards and we can take it from there.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: This is based on the NCSE's advice in its guidance document from 2021 regarding health professionals reports. In the first place, the report must indicate whether a child has a specific diagnosis, and then there must be some understanding of the complexity of the child's needs, what placement would be appropriate and the rationale for it. That is the NCSE's advice in that regard. An...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Given the passage of time since a pupil may have been assessed, it is common practice that pupils are reassessed ahead of transitioning to post-primary school. The assessment may assist both the pupil and the post-primary school in determining the most appropriate supports that are required for the pupil and how the school can best support the individual to integrate into mainstream classes,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will respond to Deputy Durkan first and then speak to the matter raised by Deputy Collins. As I mentioned in response to a previous question, 742 special classes in post-primary schools were opened this year but there are 1,803 special classes in primary schools, so there is already a gap in that regard. As I outlined, that is why I wrote the letter to all post-primary schools, stating...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is important to be clear on the purpose of the AON process as it applies to schools. The assessment of educational needs requires schools to take information about a student that already exists, usually in the student support file in the school, and make it available to the HSE via the NCSE. The assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning and teachers assess their students...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Regarding SENOs in Cork, I can make inquiries. There are 63 new special classes in Cork this year, out of the 600 special classes we opened in primary schools this year, along with the 300 classes in post-primary schools and five special schools opened over the past three years. In terms of numbers, it is critical that the NCSE is aware of children who require an appropriate placement, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: They are, of course, aware of the numbers. They change on a daily basis, as the Deputy can appreciate. That is why we have all of the forecasting measures, which I outlined to the Deputy. For the sake of the House, we are bringing forward a number of different strategic initiatives. The geographical information system, GIS, through the planning and building unit, is now sharing real-time...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. As he is aware, the AON process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment officers under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the AON. The Deputy will be aware of a court ruling in October 2021, which created an legal obligation on the education system to assist the HSE as part of the HSE’s AON process. That refers...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I understand there are still ongoing conversations on this matter and there is a commitment to extend the trial period. On principals or teachers being overburdened, as Minister of State with responsibility for special education, I acknowledge that schools are very complex organisations, as I have seen in the school visits I have undertaken. It is important that we acknowledge we are very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this. We debated a lot of these points already on radio. I did not get the opportunity to mention the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. I did mention the extra €30 million in funding that we secured for it in the budget, but the reason it is pertinent to this question is that the council will now be in a position to hire new special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the NCSE with a total full-year investment of €13 million. This will allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to reassure him that enabling all children, including children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. Firstly, in relation to the provision of mainstream school places, as the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I wish to thank the Deputy for the question and the opportunity to provide an update on this very important scheme for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. It is important, firstly, to reflect on the significant progress we have made over the last few years. The 2022 Summer Programme built on the expanded programmes of 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following. Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Assistive Technology Scheme is provided by my Department to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children for education purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who require essential specialist equipment in order to access the school curriculum. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following. Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Nov 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following. Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)....