Results 1,221-1,240 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will try to answer as best I can. Obviously, any proposal the Department comes up with would need to be in agreement with the special education consultative forum I set up that comprises advocacy groups and other stakeholders. Any proposals, effectively, would need the forum's sign-off. On the legislation and the planning, the Deputy will be aware that even the Ombudsman for Children...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: If a behavioural practitioner is required by the school, it should contact the NCSE in the first instance. The Deputy has asked me about the Our Lady of Hope School a number of times. I took a note of most of the Deputy's questions. I believe one of them was on the school inclusion model, which is concerned with providing the right supports at the right time. It has a number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: That is going ahead this year. We are expecting to have significantly more children availing of the programme this year than last. We made a number of adjustments to July provision this year to ensure that the administrative burden was less difficult for schools, particularly in terms of payment and the employment of different staff to be in schools, be they teachers, SNAs or other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy. What was his question about the NCSE? Did he say that the school had contacted the NCSE-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Absolutely. That is how it should be. Vis-à-visthe Deputy's question on access to special classes and special school places, I will discuss it with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. As the Deputy conceded, it is primarily under her remit. The nature and level of the education response in terms of special classes is based on the professionally assessed needs of each child. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: As a former Minister for Education and Skills, I take Deputy McHugh's contribution seriously, as I do with all members of the committee. I note his experience in the area. In Donegal there are 94 special classes and two special schools. I have responsibility under the derogation order from the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, for special education. It is not the first time I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Deputy Harkin for those questions. On the question of forward planning, there is a range of strategic initiatives we are building on and some of the recommendations were set out in the ombudsman's report. We have been building on those anyway for the past two years. As I said, he acknowledged that there has been much work done over the past two years with the Department, the NCSE,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Bringing in childcare workers for the July provision is something we are already looking at. We are reaching out beyond the traditional education staff. We will engage with other Departments and agencies as part of the planning for 2023. We had an inspectorate report that informed our summer programme this year. We listened to the feedback from various stakeholders and we can build on it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will try to answer the questions. The question the Deputy asked on vision is very important. Whatever about the work we are doing about the transit we need to know what the endpoint is. The Department has a core alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and particularly Article 24. We have a triple-track approach with mainstream classes, special classes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I have outlined the various continuing professional development options available through the Department of Education, the NCSE, the professional development service for teachers and teacher professional learning. There are also bespoke in-school supports and the national induction programme. If the Deputy has additional suggestions he can give them to me after the meeting. Schools need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Chair for his comments. Around the summer provision, there has been a 64% increase in special schools and classes availing of it between 2019 and 2021. It has increased over the last three years. However, I accept what the Chair is saying. We want to increase that into the future. I would like every school to provide summer provision where they can. There were 377 special...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for her comments on Our Lady of Good Hope school and some of the work we are doing there. As regards early intervention, as she is aware, the ECCE scheme provides two years of preschool for all children at no charge. The access and inclusion model, AIM-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Okay. I was just putting it into context. The AIM enables full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with SEN. Diagnosis of autism is not required to access the AIM scheme and those supports.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I would encourage all schools that wish to open special classes to engage with the NCSE as soon as possible. It is heartening to hear that schools are willing to open special classes. They should not be refused unless there is some major reason.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: There is a mandatory inclusion module that all teachers do before they are qualified to teach. The NCSE has said that only experienced teachers should teach in special classes and special schools for obvious reasons. There are many postgraduate training programmes, including diploma programmes and graduate certificates as well as professional development supports and teaching professional...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this legislation and I have listened with interest to the contributions made by Members from all sides of the House. I believe almost 20 spoke. I appreciate that as I am sure does the Minister. As Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, I am committed to making a difference for students who have special...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Josepha Madigan: As the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, I am very pleased update the House on how this legislation is intended to work to support children with special educational needs to gain access to specialist class placements that can meet their needs. There are 12 sections to the Bill and I will set out more detail on the key provisions under each section. ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. My understanding is that there has been a substantial increase in the number of schools eligible for DEIS status and the number of DEIS schools is almost double what it was previously. An appeal mechanism is available to schools that believe they should have DEIS status. If the Deputy gives me the details of the case, I will pass them on to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is important to stress that, wherever possible, the Department’s approach is to co-locate special schools on campus sites with other schools to maximise the opportunities for integration. The NCSE is only looking at an interim site for Rochestown. In that context, it will be looking for special school provision on the eastern side of Cork city also. I will make sure the NCSE is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: As I said to Deputy Stanton, I would be happy to do that, perhaps with the NCSE, so we can see in real terms what is happening. The NCSE has committed to undertaking a feasibility study and is aware of the identified need for additional special education placements for students, particularly with autism, in Cork. I understand the Deputy's points that Rochestown and Carrigaline are a bit...