Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

144 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is committed to a policy of equity and access for deaf people wishing to complete third level education; and if so if he will commit to adequate resources being deployed to enable them to do so. [16962/00]

Richard Bruton

Question:

152 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is committed to a policy of equity and access for deaf people wishing to complete third level education; and if he will commit adequate resources to enable them to do so. [16970/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 152 together.

Our higher education institutions have statutory obligations to promote equality both in terms of gender equality and in terms of equality of opportunity for all sections of society. Accordingly, the goal of achieving equity in higher education is a central pillar of educational policy generally.

In addition to the financial assistance available under the grant schemes for further and higher education, hearing impaired students attending courses in third level colleges-institutions and post leaving certificate centres may apply for assistance from the special fund for students with disabilities, which is administered by my Department. The purpose of the special fund is to provide grant assistance to students with serious physical and/or sensory disabilities 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 substantially each year from £80,000 in 1994 to £700,000 in 1999. Funding was allocated to a total of 314 applicants in 1999, including an allocation of £208,500 for 61 students with hearing impairments.

For the current year, applications for assistance under the special fund will be received by my Department at the beginning of the 2000-01 academic year. Awards to individual students will be made from within the overall allocation for the alleviation of disadvantage at PLC-third level. This measure was introduced in 1994 with funding of £200,000 and the level of funding has been increased to £2.786 million in 1999, and to £3.428 million in the current year.

Most third level colleges have developed initiatives to promote equality of opportunity, including access for students with disabilities, through targeted funding provided to the universities by the Higher Education Authority and funding from within the overall financial allocations to the institutes of technology. The 1999 allocation for HEA-funded targeted initiatives in the university sector relating to students with disabilities, including students with hearing impairments, was £539,000, which represents a significant increase on the allocation for 1998 of £400,000.

Furthermore, the National Development Plan 2000-2006 provides for a third level access fund totalling £95 million to build on the existing arrangements to promote the participation of students with disabilities, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and mature second chance students. The objective of this measure is to facilitate and improve access to the labour market for the beneficiaries whilst improving their long-term employability through enhancing their educational qualifications. It will,inter alia, meet the specific needs of students with disabilities in terms of equipment and support services. Considerations are ongoing on the allocation for initiatives under this fund.