Results 1,481-1,500 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

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

Josepha Madigan: I appreciate that this is a matter the Deputy has raised with me previously and we have discussed it on other occasions. It is important to stress that the review process for the SNA contract will begin in the next two weeks. That is my understanding. That will be helpful for progress. The Department has agreed to review the contract as part of Building Momentum. It is of the view that...

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

Josepha Madigan: I do not accept that the Department is putting this matter on the long finger. As I said, while the training might be slightly dismissed-----

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

Josepha Madigan: I did not say it has been dismissed by the Deputy necessarily but that it can be slightly dismissed. The training is very important for SNAs. It is important that we look at the outcomes and findings to enable us to inform the review which, as I have said, will take place in a couple of weeks. The Deputy says he would like it to be done now. There are lots of things we would like to have...

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

Josepha Madigan: The Minister and I were delighted to announce this year’s summer programme. It is anticipated that it will support up to 48,000 children with special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage. It is on the back of the supplementary programme and the Covid learning support scheme. We know that these children suffered significant regression...

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

Josepha Madigan: I understand that last year the majority were paid before 7 October, once they had fully completed their form. Most were paid by 28 October, while 76% were paid by 11 November and those in the bands by 25 November. As the Deputy mentioned, this year, for the first time, there will be an online claims system for schools to submit payment details for those staff taking part in the...

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

Josepha Madigan: As I stated in my first contribution, we indicated that the SNA allocation would take place in May, as it always does. That is the timeline for allocations and it is done on the basis of ongoing collaboration with our education partners and everybody else. The SNA allocation will be announced by 31 May. It is important to consider the front-loading model when we are talking about the...

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

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy needs to be aware that this decision is not solely for me, as Minister of State with responsibility for special education, or the Minister for Education to take. There are a lot of moving parts when making a decision of this nature. We have stated previously that the allocation will be made in May. That gives certainty to schools as they know an announcement will be made on the...

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

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this question around summer provision, which is on the minds of many schools, parents and families. It is very much looked forward to by children with additional needs and their families. We are encouraging as many schools as we can to participate this year in the summer provision programme. As the Deputy will know, all 4,000 schools are eligible to...

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

Josepha Madigan: The inspectorate reviewed SEN provision last year and provided a report which was shared with stakeholders and used to inform this year's summer provision. The findings from last year indicated primarily that the programme was very beneficial and successful. We wanted to build on that to inform this year's summer provision. Schools can have as many pupils as they have capacity for. The...

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

Josepha Madigan: I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this important matter. Suffice to say that the timeline for SNA allocations is always May. Work is ongoing at present on the SNA allocations and they will be announced this month, as promised. There will be no deviation from that, and certainty will be given to SNAs and schools in terms of their re-allocation. We are specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 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 (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The School Inclusion Model (SIM) is based on policy advice from the National Council for Special Education and is based on the principle of providing the right support at the right time delivered by a range of personnel with relevant qualifications and skill-sets. The purpose of SIM is to build the capacity of participating schools so they can support the inclusion of all children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 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: Disability Services (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was assigned responsibility for the management and direction of the Visiting Teachers Service for children with hearing or visual impairment with effect from 20th March 2017. It was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 126 and 130 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 May 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. The 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 (12 May 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 (12 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment Officers under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the Assessment of Need. The Assessment Officer makes the determination as to whether or not a child or young person meets the definition of disability contained in the act and coordinates and completes the Assessment Report. ...