Results 1,341-1,360 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The qualifications do not change, in essence. It is up to a school as to how to deploy a particular SNA allocation. An SNA is not designated to a particular child; rather, he or she is designated to a particular class, whether a special or mainstream class, with a view to the children developing independent living skills. The children in primary school can, understandably, become quite...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is still called a scheme because the circulars are still relevant and appropriate. I refer to Circular 0030/2014 and Circular 0030/2020. The scheme was put in place in the first instance for a minority of students, as the Deputy knows, who had significant care requirements and who would not be able to attend school without their SNA to give them additional support. As I said in reply to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: If they do, perhaps that is something we could be informed of and then we could revisit it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is a good point. As I said in reply to Deputy Conway-Walsh, it is my view, not necessarily the Department's view, that since this is the first training programme in UCD, I do not see what barriers there would be to have that training programme for SNAs in other parts of the country in the future in different universities and higher and further education facilities. As the Deputy said,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It was originally called the SNA scheme. It is enshrined to a certain extent or set out in that circular, which is still appropriate, still exists and is still relevant and applicable. It can be looked at again. We have moved on a lot since that circular was originally issued. I am open to listening to the views of SNAs themselves because they are the assistants. If they feel that having...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: As I said to in reply to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Conway-Walsh, there is a separate ongoing conversation with UCD, the detail of which would not be appropriate to air before the committee today. It is an ongoing conversation and it is important both sides have the opportunity to speak freely and without interference from me. I am satisfied it is a very worthwhile exercise and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Revised Criteria for Qualifications of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: It is separate. It is around minimum qualifications.

Special Educational Needs: Statements (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the 24 Deputies who spoke in the debate over the past two and a half hours. They have been very frank, honest, articulate and comprehensive in their contributions on special education. I very much welcome that because it gives me an opportunity to hear from individual Deputies around the country, who hear from their own particular constituents and from advocacy groups about the...

Special Educational Needs: Statements (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will take this opportunity to speak directly to the parents and families of children with special educational needs, SEN. While I could not possibly understand all the day-to-day pressures they face, I am on their side and the Government is committed to ensuring every child with special educational needs has access to an education. One child who does not have a place is one child too...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes additional teaching and care supports. As a result, the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 380 together. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes additional teaching and care supports. As a result, the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes additional teaching and care supports. As a result, the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (16 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes additional teaching and care supports. As a result, the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 136, 140 and 141 together. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, the Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Earlier this month, the Government announced the Summer Programme to allow all primary and post-primary schools to offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. The total funding available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million. The programme was developed following extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jun 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile. Under the allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile. I can inform the Deputy that an official from my...