Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Michael Creed

Question:

399 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department offers any scheme of financial assistance towards the purchase of computers for persons attending third level education who have hearing disabilities. [29364/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

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. The purpose of the fund is to provide grant assistance to students with serious physical and-or sensory disabilities towards the cost of special equipment, including computers, special materials and technological aids, targeted transport services, personal assistants and sign language interpreters.

The level of funding allocated to the fund has increased substantially each year from £80,000 in 1994 to more than £1 million this year.

Applications for assistance under the fund are received by my Department at the beginning of the academic year. Completed application forms are normally forwarded to my Department by the disability officer, or the responsible officer of the institution. In the current academic year, institutions were requested to return all completed application forms by 20 October 2000. The fund is administered centrally by my Department with the assistance of anad hoc advisory group which consists of representatives of the Department, a representative from the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability – AHEAD – and a representative of the Higher Education Authority – HEA.

Allocations from the fund are being finalised at present and my Department will be notifying the relevant colleges-third level institutions of allocations under this year's fund within the coming week. Individual applicants will also be notified directly of the outcome of their application and the level of their award.

The Government is providing for a third level access fund totalling £95 million over the period 2000 to 2006, aimed at tackling under-representation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with disabilities at third level education. Accordingly, in September 2000, I established an action group on access to third level education to advise me on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote access by the three target groups. I have asked the group to report to me within three months.

Question No. 400 taken with Question No. 387.