The special fund for students with disabilities was introduced in 1994 and operates under the aegis of my Department to provide funding for students with disabilities attending courses in third level institutions and, since 1998, in post-leaving certificate centres.
The purpose of the special fund is to provide students with serious physical and/or sensory disabilities with grant assistance towards the cost of special equipment, special materials and technological aids, targeted transport services, personal assistants and sign language interpreters. The level of funding allocated to the special fund has increased from £80,000 in 1994 to £250,000 in 1998 and I am providing for a substantial increase to the fund this year, details of which I will be announcing shortly.
The number of students assisted and the average amount of financial assistance provided over the past three years is as follows: