Vol. 506 No. 4
43 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of funding available to encourage and assist deaf and hearing impaired students in third level education; his views on whether additional resources are necessary; and his further views on whether the present discretionary system is satisfactory. [14952/99]
My Department operates a special fund for students with disabilities from which students at third level and in the post leaving certificate sector with disabilities, including deaf and hearing impaired students, may apply for assistance. The 1998 allocation to the fund was £250,000. Grants from the fund are made to students for the purchase of special equipment, special materials and technological aids, targeted interpreters and personal assistants. I understand that of the students assisted last year, 39 deaf-hearing impaired students were allocated funding amounting to £96,000.
In addition to this the higher education authority makes targeted funding available to the universities for initiatives designed to promote access to and participation in higher education for students with disabilities. In 1998 a sum of £400,000 was made available for this purpose. Examples of initiatives funded to date of particular relevance to deaf and hearing impaired students include installation of loop systems, assistive technologies, counselling and other student support services, special alarm systems and staff training and awareness development.
As the Deputy may be aware, I have announced details of a £6.9 million two-year funding initiative to tackle educational disadvantage in the third level sector. Of this funding, £3 million is being specifically allocated to promote access to third level amongst students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including people with disabilities. Details of the allocation of these additional resources will be announced in due course when I have fully considered how best to proceed in these areas. However, I can assure the Deputy that I intend to increase the funding available for students with disabilities. As regards the discretionary nature of the current arrangements which date from 1994, I would prefer to have an entitlement based scheme. Obviously, the financial and other resources associated with such a scheme would have to be clearly established and in this regard, I would mention that the higher education authority is commissioning a detailed survey on the provision for students with disabilities in the third level sector. I understand that this survey will be completed by the end of the year.
