Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
146. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding available to further education colleges to support students with disabilities; the mechanism by which the funding is accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24485/20]
View answer147. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is satisfied that funding for students with disabilities is adequate to support the needs of students attending further education colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24486/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
The Further Education and Training (FET) sector aims to ensure that systemic and structural barriers within FET to learner participation and success are proactively addressed so that each learner, including learners with a disability, can access the available learning opportunities and be enabled to fulfil his/her potential within FET.
The FET sector supports the inclusion of learners with disabilities in the following ways:
- FET programmes are available to all learners, including those with a disability who meet the eligibility criteria and the guidelines provided for each FET programme.
- Specific FET programmes are provided for persons with a disability who require more intensive support through Specialist Training Providers (STPs).
- Community Education, which assists learners with a disability to participate in FET provision by adapting course content, resources and teaching methodologies to suit their abilities.
Funding is provided to support the inclusion of learners with disabilities through an annual planning process that supports the funding allocation process. Each Education and Training Board (ETB) submits to SOLAS details of its planned provision and funding requirements to support the delivery of its FET services including for learner supports. Over €3m is currently available for this support.
In addition to the above grants, ETBs have access to the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) aimed specifically at Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) learners with disabilities. Supports from this fund are distributed to PLC colleges based on the number of learners with disabilities and their individual needs. The supports provided by this Fund in the FET sector has risen by 16% over the last five years to €2.7m.
The FET sector, through the implementation of the new FET strategy, is committed to increasing levels of inclusion through the provision of high quality, more accessible and flexible education and training programmes and supports suited to the identified needs of individuals, with the aim of enabling every citizen to participate fully in society.
