Finian McGrath
Question:790. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support a person (details supplied) in County Dublin with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46944/15]
View answerWednesday, 13 January 2016
Questions (790, 791)
Finian McGrath
Question:791. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to address a matter in 2016 to assist students with a disability (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46945/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 790 and 791 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs until the end of the school year in which they reach the age of 18.
At that point, the Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. Special Schools may make an application to my Department to retain pupils over the age of 18 who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation at level 3 or above of the National Qualifications Framework; for one additional year, in order to complete these courses.
Schools are expected to liaise with the health authorities during the final year of a young person's attendance in school to ensure the young person's successful transition to adult services by the time s/he reaches age 18. However, my Department may also provide sanction to special schools, subject to application, to retain a pupil for one additional year beyond the age of 18 to facilitate the transition of a pupil to adult services.
The Deputy will be aware that students with a special educational need, including those with Down syndrome, have a range of options available to them in the higher and further education sectors. Some students choose to participate in educational programmes through further adult educational programmes or in adult settings.
While the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years, my Department may allocate funding towards an educational component of such provision.
This is generally transacted through the co-operation hours scheme operated by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) where the local service provider makes application to the relevant ETB for tuition hours. Funding is also provided to the National Learning Network for this purpose.
Young adults with disabilities are eligible to access Specialist Training Provision for persons with a disability organised through the ETB Sector who contract with Specialist Training Providers nationwide to deliver training to people with disabilities who require more intensive support than would be available in non-specialist training provision. A range of specialist courses is available at two levels of training, Introductory Skills Training (IST) and Skill Specific Training (SST) and includes in-centre, employer based and blended learning approaches to accommodate learners' training needs. These training courses lead to awards at levels 3-5 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Entry to specialist training is open to all persons with disabilities over 16 years of age.
Specialist training offers additional supports to learners, including individualised training and progression plans, literacy and numeracy support, longer training duration, adapted equipment, transport arrangements, enhanced programme content and lower trainer/learner ratio.
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme also provides a third level admissions scheme for school leavers who have a disability or specific learning difficulty. Students who are considered to be DARE eligible may secure a college.
The main support for students with disabilities in higher and further education is provided by the Fund for Students with Disabilities, which is available to any full-time student in HE or FE with a verifiable disability.
In relation to higher education options for persons with intellectual disabilities, courses are provided for people with intellectual disabilities in the following higher education institutions: Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, St. Angela's College, Sligo, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology, Tralee. Course details are available on the websites of the relevant institutions.