Vol. 500 No. 4
372 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the value of the total fund for material and equipment needs of children with special needs attending ordinary schools; the number of these pupils in integrated settings which the fund is designed to cover; and if he will give details of the main headings and the amounts devoted thereto. [4125/99]
A sum of £800,000 is provided in the current year under the special fund to meet the special equipment needs of children with disabilities within the primary system. The corresponding allocation in 1998 was £529,000. The allocation for special equipment at second-level for the current year is £365,000. In addition, a special allocation of £250,000 is being made under the IT 2000 initiative for the provision of specialised computer equipment for children with special needs.
This funding is intended to meet the cost of specialised equipment required by children attending special schools, special classes or ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis. Allocations are based on the assessed level of need of individual pupils. Any of the estimated 8,000 special needs children who are attending school on a fully integrated basis would be entitled to avail of this funding should they be assessed as having specialised equipment needs. In 1998, special equipment grants were made in respect of 187 special needs pupils at primary level and 62 at post primary level.
The main headings under which funding would be provided would include: grants for the purchase of braillers, radio aids and specialised computers – £393,755 at primary level and £131,600 at post primary level in 1998; grants for materials-equipment for special schools-classes – £127,534 at primary level and £204,000 at post-primary level in 1998; and grants for specialised materials for remedial teachers, resource teachers and visiting teachers – £334,726 at primary level in 1998.
