Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1154. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students with dyslexia in further and higher education; the supports that are in place for such persons; the additional supports provided due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15371/21]
View answerThere is no specific disability category for data collection purposes for learners with dyslexia in either higher or further education. Data is not specifically collected on the number of students with dyslexia in further education but it falls under the broader category of 'Learning, Remembering and Concentrating”. 4,300 students in Further Education indicated a “Learning, Remembering and Concentrating” disability in further education.
The number of students with dyslexia in higher education is not collected by the HEA, however the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides details of the number of students receiving support from that Fund in the broader category of “Specific learning difficulties (dyslexia or dyscalculia)”.
The principal funding source for students with disabilities including dyslexia in further and higher education is the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD). The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding to higher and further education institutions to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible students with disabilities so that they can participate on an equal basis with their peers.
The FSD aims to support the personal, educational and professional development of the participating student and contribute to the achievement of their full potential. Eligible students can receive assistance from the FSD from further education level 5 up to doctoral level 10, and it can be applied for during any year of study.
The FSD operates as a funding allocation to higher education institutions and PLC colleges. The actual level of support to be provided to individual students is decided by each HEI who carry out a needs assessment to determine the types of supports and accommodations needed.
Funding can be used to provide supports and accommodations for assistive technology, equipment and software, non-medical helpers, academic or learning support, deaf supports and transport.
€7,658,000 was allocated to the FSD for Higher Education in 2020 and the fund supporting circa 12,392 students. €1,942,000 was allocated to the FSD for Further Education in 2020 supporting circa 1966 students. In 2019/20, the number of students who indicated a "Specific Learning Difficulties" (including but not exclusively dyslexia) as either the primary or additional disability while attending Higher Education was 6163. For the 2019/20, the number of students in FE with Specific Learning Difficulties (including but not exclusively dyslexia) for whom funding was applied for was 737. There may be students who had a specific learning difficulty who did not apply to the FSD for support. i.e. FSD numbers are not necessarily the same as overall numbers of students with SpLD.
As part of the Government’s Covid response, and budget 2021, a range of additional supports have been put in place for students;
- I have doubled the level of funding available in the Student Assistance Fund for this academic year;
- I have increased the level of funding for the 1916 Bursary Fund (also known as PATH 2) to €5 million per annum, which will provide an additional 200 bursaries, bringing the total number for 2021 to 1,000 bursaries for the most disadvantaged students in the country;
- I have secured an additional €20 million in funding for SUSI this year to cover increased applications to the scheme;
- I have allocated €6 million to enhance SUSI support for postgraduates;
- I put in place a €15 million scheme to support access to laptops and digital devices;
- I have allocated €8m to enable SOLAS to establish a Mitigating Educational Disadvantage Fund to support providers in engaging with learners who are at the greatest risk of disconnection from the education and training system;
- I have secured €50 million to provide financial assistance to full time third level students in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on this group. This funding will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
