Vol. 512 No. 3
306 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department has refused a grant for the purchase of Kurzweil scanning software for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25961/99]
My Department administers a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment of direct educational benefit to second-level pupils who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and-or communicative disabilities which make ordinary communication and educational activities through speech and-or writing impossible for them.
An application was received from the school attended by the pupil in question for a range of equipment, including a Kurzweil reading and scanning package, for use by the pupil. The application and supporting documentation were examined by my Department and a range of equipment was approved. I am informed that on the basis of the information available to my Department in this case the approved equipment is appropriate to meet the needs of the pupil concerned in accordance with the objectives of the scheme.
