Results 621-640 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: My department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. My department strives to ensure that every child has access to an educational experience...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: The Department recently announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. All schools have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most. The central theme for this year’s programme is, ‘Building Confidence and Connections’. The primary aim of this theme is to help our children and young people to realise their potential,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: In addition to the dedicated centre in Galway using the Barnahus model, there will be two further locations in the east and south. I understand they will provide national coverage and access for victims and families to the service. A joint EU-Council of Europe project to support national implementation of the model is also under way. An inception report for the project has just been...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his Topical Issue matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Children First joint working protocol for An Garda Síochána and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides a framework for co-ordinated, co-operative working, which forms an integral part of child protection and welfare...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traffic Management (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. LIHAF is a scheme that funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traffic Management (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: Local knowledge is indeed important. I am aware that the Deputy, in particular, has acute knowledge of his constituency and its environs in relation to traffic schemes. LIHAF is proving successful in its objective to ensure key infrastructure requirements are being funded to allow new housing to proceed. In specifically addressing the issue of housing supply, it can also be a factor in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fuel Sales (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is important to acknowledge that, currently, solid fuels are generally cheaper in Northern Ireland than in the State. This, unfortunately, is a matter over which the Government has no control. The price differentials arise for several reasons, including the lower VAT rate and the absence of a carbon tax in Northern lreland, which has been...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fuel Sales (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy. It is acknowledged that a price differential arises in retail sales of coal between the State and Northern Ireland owing to the lower VAT rate, absence of a carbon tax and much less stringent environmental standards applying to solid fuels in Northern Ireland. Revenue staff have participated in a number of joint operations with local authorities' solid fuel inspection...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to outline what we are doing regarding special education in general. I commend the Catherine McAuley School on all the work it is doing. It has a wonderful principal and staff. I visited on 10 February last. The school has a lovely, warm atmosphere. I could see how committed and dedicated all the staff are to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I echo the Senator's comments about Greg Browne and all the staff of the Catherine McAuley School and the incredible work they do. The school mainly provides education to pupils with a mild or borderline general learning disability and not just at primary level but all the way up to post-primary. This retrospective request relates to modular units already in existence. The Department is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Education (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Senator. I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, but there are some comments that will also be relevant to the Department of Education and I can certainly raise this issue with it today. In recent months, there has been a significant focus on the threat AI may pose to academic...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Education (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: None of us is irreplaceable and I am sure we could have avatars in the future. The Senator makes some very valid points. I should mention that legislation is in place since 2019. Ireland became the first country in Europe to enact legislation to address the growing issue of contract cheating in education and training. There were fines of €100,000 and up to five years' imprisonment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I will first outline the microgeneration support scheme which provides grants for the installation of solar photovoltaic, PV, panels up to 6 kW. I will then outline the supports available to businesses under this scheme. The Government approved the microgeneration support scheme on 21 December to support 330 MW of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: There is the small-scale generation scheme for generators above 50 kW to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV in cohorts that are not as suited to other support measures, such as the renewable electricity support scheme. As I said, that scheme is expected to be launched this year. I thank the Senator for raising this important topic. There are grant supports for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability scheme assists those in private houses to make their accommodation more suited to their needs. The overall scheme encompasses the three grants the Senator mentioned, namely: the housing adaptation grant for people with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I have listened to what the Senator has said and I will take his comments back to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I understand that among the areas which the review is considering are the income thresholds, the grant limits and the application of the decision-making process, including any supplementary documentation required. I understand the recommendations in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Seanad Reform (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I thank Senator McDowell for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As the House will know, and as the Senator indicated, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on 31 March in a case brought by Mr. Thomas Heneghan, a graduate of the University of Limerick, against the State, seeking an extension of voting rights at Seanad...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Seanad Reform (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: As a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, I have had the privilege of always being able to vote in Seanad elections but others are not so fortunate. Some of the comments the Senator made are not without merit in that regard. I note his comments on the need for a public consultation on any proposals that are brought to Government. I will certainly bring that back to the Minister for Housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 May 2023)

Josepha Madigan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. For 2023, the spend by my department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on...