Results 1,461-1,480 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: This year’s Summer Programme will 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. In line with last year, the total funding available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million. Building on the 2021 programme, all schools, both...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Earlier this month, the Government announced this year's 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 programme aims are to support pupils to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and increase their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Consultative Forum for Special Education provides an opportunity for a broad range of parents of children with special educational needs to contribute to the on-going reform and development of special education policy and provision, and, raise concerns in this regard. The forum covers the special education provision for children of school going age attending recognised primary, special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Earlier this month, the Government announced this year's 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 programme aims are to support pupils to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and increase their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 to 468, inclusive, together. Enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for this Government. This year, the Department of Education will invest in excess of €2 billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget in the area of special educational needs support. As a result the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The NCSE has responsibility for planning and co-ordinating 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: School Staff (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in our schools is at unprecedented levels. Budget 2022 provides for an additional 1,165 SNAs to provide support to children with special educational needs. This will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 by the end of 2022. This represents an increase of 81% in SNA numbers since 2011 when 10,575 SNAs were working in our schools. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy very much for his question. My understanding is that the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, had a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy English, and Senator Cassells this week, and the project will be going to tender this week. I hope that is of importance to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I will answer the Deputy's follow-up question in a moment, but on the capital budget, €4.4 billion is available for the period 2021 to 2025. Schools can also apply for additionality in terms of accommodation through the additional school accommodation scheme. On demographics, population increases and provision for those coming from Ukraine and other migrant children as well as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: In response to Deputy Durkan, the forecasting model, particularly in the context of special education, is critical. Indeed, for all children, not just those with additional needs, that geographical information system is important in the planning and building unit. It is important there is capacity there, that we know current demand and can anticipate future demand when planning for schools....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has an interest in the area of special education. As he knows, the most recent budget allocated €2.2 billion to the area, which is over 25% of the entire education budget. That is in recognition and acknowledgement of the importance of special education. The Government respects the fact that this is an area that needs funding, support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Last year the Department gave a commitment that all new schools that are built will automatically have SEN facilities and-or a sensory room if they need it. We should not have this issue every year where we are scrambling to facilitate children with special needs. As I mentioned earlier, based on current and anticipated demand, we have a forecasting model in place. The planning and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The summer programme is not about pitching one category against another and I know the Deputy is not saying it is, but it is important I say that for the record. This is not about the location of where children are or their backgrounds; this is about their levels of need. The schools have indicated they will be welcoming of Ukrainian and all migrant children and I accept their bona fides in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: They are. Children who have complex needs in mainstream education are eligible, as are special classes and schools. They are fully supported. First, is the funding of €40 million, which is important, and there is an extra week's pay for staff, so that represents double funding to incentivise them. There is also extra and enhanced funding for special schools and special classes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy and I have spoken about Dublin 12 and special classes there on a number of different occasions. From a general perspective, we have increased the amount of special classes since 2011 by 386%, which we can all admit is significant, although that is not to say there are no pinch points, particularly in Dublin, Cork and other areas. This year we opened 269 classes and next year we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: That planning for special education provision is one of my raisons d'êtrein the Department. The National Council for Special Education, which I have to hold to account in its planning for current and anticipated demand, is critical, and that is primarily done through the special educational needs organisers, SENOs, even though there can often be a narrative that it is under the section...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: In 2018, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, published a comprehensive review of the special needs assistant scheme. It advised that there should be adequate and comprehensive training for SNAs. I mentioned this earlier to Deputy Ó Ríordáin. The first SNA course was established in UCD and five different modules were offered over ten months. Some 3,500 people...