Results 121-140 of 7,262 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Regulations (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question, which is on a very important issue. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health. I will open with an explanation of what HHC is and its current legal position. Tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. It is a Schedule 1 controlled drug in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and is subject to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy and I understand his frustration. However, having read this brief myself on the progress that is there, one can quite clearly see that there is a chronological timeline. I note that there was a planning permission which lapsed at one point, a new planning application was made to Meath County Council in July 2023 and the final grant of planning was received in October...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important project for Kerry and its environs. I am, obviously, answering this question on behalf of the Minister for Transport who has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII, which is mentioned by the Deputy, under the Roads Acts and in line...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Department of Education, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the large scale capital building project for Lismullen National School, County Meath. I am answering this question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. This project is included in the Department...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Breeding (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for her question. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, who sends her apologies to the Senator for being unable to be present to take the Commencement matter herself. The Department of Rural and Community Development has policy and legislative responsibility for two areas relating to dogs -...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Breeding (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: The Department is reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act and the Control of Dogs Act to take into account the recommendations from the report of the working group on the control of dogs, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and consultation with stakeholders and experts in the field, which was the outcome of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: The climate action plan does set out ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating of B2-cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by the end of 2030. The national retrofit plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving these targets. Fairness, universality, and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I acknowledge the Senator's comment on the reduction of time from 26 months to 20 months. It is progress and I think there will be more progress as time goes on. I note he welcomed some of the measures that have been put in place, including around staffing, which hopefully will help. It is important to note there are other schemes as well. Some 700 approved housing body and low-income...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for her question which, as she pointed out, I am taking on behalf the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Members will be aware of the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, which is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040. It was established to support more compact and sustainable development through the regeneration and rejuvenation of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: We have seen something of a transformation of Francis Street recently, with fantastic public realm works completed. Using the further funds under the URDF, Dublin City Council will be in a position to carry out essential works on the Iveagh Markets building, which is a focal point of the street.The works now proposed to be carried out by Dublin City Council are not to be confused with those...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for raising this extremely important issue. I have noted the contents of his contribution. The current model of allocation was commenced in 2017 on foot of a 2014 NCSE report. The model aimed to move away from a diagnosis-led system of allocation to an identified-need-driven system. This was to provide greater certainty to schools about the additional teaching...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: We obviously do not want a situation where a school feels its needs are not being met in order for it to look after children with additional needs. We want to give the supports. The NCSE is there and the school should speak to it. If there are to be future enrolments, of course its allocation will be reviewed. Complex needs are now taken into account in two ways. First, those students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

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, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

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, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

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, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 262 together. 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, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 263 together. 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, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. My department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

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, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The assessment of need process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment officers under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2024)

Josepha Madigan: The Department of Education provides an extensive range of supports to assist pupils who are Blind or who have a Visual Impairment. The Department's policy, which is provided for under Section 2 of the Education of Persons with Special Needs Act 2004, aims to ensure all children with special educational needs access appropriate education intervention in mainstream settings where possible. ...