Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (318)

Micheál Martin

Question:

318. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the needs of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind which is in need of an additional €500,000 to protect essential services; the amount of funding the organisation is currently receiving from his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that other peer organisations receive a much higher proportion of their funding on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27888/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides annual funding of €68,886 to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB) for the provision of its Child Mobility Programme. This grant provides for the services of a Mobility Officer employed by the IGDB who provides mobility training to visually impaired children. Instruction is mostly on a one-to-one basis in a range of environments, including the school environment, until the child has reached a safe and efficient standard of mobility. The Mobility Officer also advises schools in relation to sourcing materials or specialist equipment for blind/visually impaired persons to lesson planning and providing advice to schools. I understand that the Department of Health also provides a very significant level of funding to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.