Vol. 534 No. 4
233 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who is attending third level and who is dyslexic, did not receive grant aid under the Special Fund for Students with Disabilities, 2000. [10955/01]
The special fund for students with disabilities, which is assisted by the European Social Fund, is administered directly by my Department. It provides grants towards the provision of services and the purchase of equipment for students with disabilities attending courses in third level institutions or post-leaving certificate courses.
Applications for assistance are made in October of each year by the individual students through their third level institution. Decisions on applications are taken by an ad hoc advisory group which, in 2000, consisted of representatives of my Department, administration and inspectorate, a representative from the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability – AHEAD – and a representative of the Higher Education Authority – HEA.
The criteria for assessing the applications were drawn up by the ad hoc advisory group. In relation to applicants with specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, the group took into account evidence that the applicant was provided with assistance at second level, or received special consideration in the leaving certificate examination or had previously received assistance from the special fund. In the case of the applicant in question, no such evidence was provided.
