Alan Dillon
Question:101. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the level of digital support offered to special education classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52775/23]
View answerThursday, 30 November 2023
Questions (101)
Written answers
The Department of Education’s Statement of Strategy sets out the vision, mission and goals in order to provide an education system where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. It aims to ensure that our school system is open and welcoming for all students, regardless of background, and that in particular learners at risk of educational disadvantage will be supported to achieve their full potential.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, published in April of last year, sets out the Department’s policy approach to continue the progress made in embedding digital technology across the curriculum and in all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment. Its stated vision is “to empower schools to harness the opportunities of digital transformation to build digital competence and an effective digital education ecosystem so as to develop competent, critically engaged, active learners while supporting them to reach their potential and participate fully as global citizens in a digital world”. The Digital Strategy is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.
All students following primary and post-primary programmes are included, for per capita purposes, in recognised primary, special and post-primary schools. An enhanced per capita rate applies to students enrolled in DEIS and Special schools and to pupils in mainstream special class primary settings. Information on the background to this scheme for the 2021-2022 school year, the rates and eligibility for this funding, is set out in the associated circular which can be found on gov.ie website.
My Department intends to issue the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the 2023 to 2024 school year. The specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
The Assistive Technology Scheme is provided by the Department to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children who may require access to such technology for education purposes. Full details of the scheme are contained in departmental circular 10/2013.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex learning needs who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
An additional €2 million funding was secured in Budget 2023 for this scheme. This represents an increase of almost 60% on funding allocated previously to this essential support.
Assistive technology is a critical enabler for those with special educational needs to gain the maximum benefit from a modern technologically focused education system and this increased allocation shows the continued commitment to ensuring that a full range of resources, not just teachers and SNAs, are available to support children who most need it.
It must be clear that the existing I.T. provision in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs before the school should apply for this scheme. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds. Where children with more complex disabilities require essential specialist equipment to access the school curriculum, which they do not already have, or which cannot be provided for them through the schools existing provisions, schools may make an application for such equipment to the NCSE under the terms of this scheme.
In order to qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology Scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative condition and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the student to access the curriculum.
The type of equipment provided under the Assistive Technology Scheme is varied, and includes audiological supports for students with hearing impairment, braille equipment for children with visual impairment, and computer equipment with associated modified software for students with physical or severe communicative incapacities.
Communication devices or medical or therapy related devices which are not specific educational interventions or equipment specifically required as essential for school educational access, and which have a general application outside of school, are not provided for under the Assistive Technology Scheme, however. Such equipment is normally provided for children with disabilities by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Over €3.7m was provided to schools last year (2022) through this scheme to support individual pupils. The NCSE offer courses in certain aspects of the use of assistive technology and support the use of relevant technologies through their network of visiting teachers, SENOs and advisors.
The department is currently reviewing this scheme to ensure that it is working for these children and that the resources are allocated appropriately and as efficiently as possible. The review in ongoing and is expected to complete by the end of 2023.
Schools should apply for a grant to purchase specialist equipment, where this is essential, for students with a diagnosis of a serious physical disability and/or a sensory or communicative disability. In addition, an ICT grant is available per new primary and post-primary classroom in an existing buildings and for new school buildings.