Michael Ring
Question:82 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made in relation to a special needs assistant and resource teacher for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [18133/03]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
My Department received an application for resource teaching and special needs assistant support for the pupil concerned on 3 June 2003. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the school in question in due course.
Mary Upton
Question:83 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if grants or other forms of special assistance are available to facilitate students with a disability to study abroad; if so, the details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18197/03]
With regard to children of school-going age, arrangements are made to facilitate the placement of students with disabilities outside the State where the nature of the special educational need involved is such as to be incapable of being properly addressed within this jurisdiction. In such cases, my Department covers the full cost of tuition expenses, while residential costs are met by the health authorities.
Under my Department's higher education grant schemes, maintenance grants are available to eligible students pursuing approved undergraduate courses in other EU member states. In general, approved courses are those pursued in a third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds.
Students attending approved courses in other EU member states are subject to the same conditions of funding as students attending approved courses in the State. The main conditions of funding relate to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Also, tax-relief on tuition fees is available in respect of approved courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level in other EU member states. In addition to the maintenance grant schemes, my Department administers directly a fund for students with disabilities, for third level students, which is assisted by the European Social Fund under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
The purpose of the fund is to provide students with serious physical and/or sensory disabilities with grant assistance towards the cost of special equipment, special materials and technological aids, targeted transport services, personal assistants and sign language interpreters. This fund provides assistance for students with disabilities attending courses in publicly funded colleges in Ireland and in other EU member states.
Mary Wallace
Question:84 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 338 of 10 June 2003, his views on the aspect of the question which relates to the proposal that special autism education units should have their own dedicated therapy for their own service; his Department's proposals with regard to same; if he will provide the necessary clarity with regard to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18229/03]
Responsibility for the delivery of therapy services to children with autism lies with the relevant health authorities which are allocated funding for this purpose. I am not aware of any plans by the health boards to reduce or eliminate these therapy services. The response to Parliamentary Question No. 338 sets out my Department's plans for progressing the fundamental structural and legislative measures which are necessary to underpin the development and delivery of services for persons with autism.