Results 1,541-1,560 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I have another 14 seconds.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: There is enhanced funding for special schools in recognition of the complexity of their needs. They enrol the children with the most complex needs.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Thankfully, we are not back in the 1990s, and significant work has been done since then on this, together with the supplementary Covid learning and support scheme. I totally agree with the Deputy and am ad idemwith her on one thing, which is that the families really need this service and need respite for their children to bring them on. We gave some of this information to the Ombudsman for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy spoke for four minutes and 23 seconds. She is correct that this is a very important topic and I am delighted the Ceann Comhairle selected it for discussion. I want to reiterate the importance and aims of the summer provision. It builds confidence in children, supports pupils to re-engage with education, increases their motivation and promotes well-being. For children at key...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works Staff (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. The OPW employs approximately 2,500 staff across a wide range of craft, technical, administrative and management disciplines, and all OPW staff have essential roles to play that bring great value to those availing of OPW services across a number of work programmes. The OPW manages in excess of 2,400...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works Staff (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I assure the Senator that the OPW strives to value its staff equally, regardless of their grade or recruitment methodology, primarily through ongoing communication and engagement. While there are many different grades and classifications of employees, the OPW will continue to work hard to minimise the impact of the historical differences in terms and conditions that apply between various...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I note the Senator's particular interest in the area of special education in general. We were very pleased to announce this programme yesterday. There is a new package for the summer programme for this year. We have matched the funding from last year of €40 million for children with additional needs. It will also help Ukrainian children in terms of the inclusion programme. First,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: Around the Ukrainian children, I want to mention that, for this year, schools will be supporting children to be included in the inclusion programmes. They are very focused on the individual needs of children as schools identify them. Language tuition will be offered to these children. The 16 ETBs are organising the English as a second language panels, which will assist these children. It...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for his important question. I am happy to respond on behalf of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney. The priority for the Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by the Government, including overseas...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Senator is correct in saying that we need to treat this as a priority, and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, is doing so. He very much welcomes the open discussion and debate around whether we can defend our sovereignty. That is the pertinent question that needs to be teased out. The Irish people need to be reassured we have adequate defence mechanisms. The Senator mentioned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 May 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. The provision of a profiled allocation is designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 provides a comprehensive framework for promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism or early school leaving. The act recognises that alternative forms of education exist for children outside of the ages specified in the act, however, the act sets out that parents must ensure that their children, from the age of 6 to the age of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 May 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I understand that the NCSE responded directly to the Deputy on 11 April 2022 in respect of the issue raised. I will arrange to have the query sent to the NCSE again for direct reply to the Deputy with any update. I want to reassure the Deputy that the NCSE, through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO), remains available to support both families and schools regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Apr 2022)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 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 (27 Apr 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 additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.  The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Apr 2022)

Josepha Madigan: The National Council for Special Education Visiting Teachers, are qualified teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss and/or visual impairment. They offer longitudinal support to children, their families and schools, from the time of referral through to the end of post primary education The management of...