Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
548. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education to request the NCSE to outline the total funding per annum for the past five years for assistive technology to support blind and vision impaired students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27760/23]
View answerThe Assistive Technology Scheme is provided by my Department to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children for education purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who require essential specialist equipment in order to access the school curriculum.
It is vital that all learners have the opportunity to reach their potential, with digital technologies providing the means to overcome traditional barriers to learning, and to support inclusion across education.
Additional €2 million funding was secured in Budget 2023 for this scheme. This represents an increase of almost 60% on funding allocated previously to this essential support. This increased allocation supports my Department’s commitment to ensure that a full range of resources, not just teachers and SNAs, are available to support children who most need it.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology/specialised equipment is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support.
In order to qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology Scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the student to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
Schools make applications directly to the SENO, providing details of the student’s special educational needs or disability, including details of the approach taken by the school in making relevant interventions.
SENOs will review the application, and professional reports provided in support of same, in order to establish whether the criteria of the scheme have been met. They will then make a recommendation to my Department as to whether or not assistive technology is required; and based on this recommendation, my Department will decide on the level of grant, if any, to be provided.
Although equipment is sanctioned under the Assistive Technology scheme for use by particular students, it is the property of the school, and the school’s management authority is responsible for maintenance, repair, and insurance of the equipment.
The Department of Education provides funding for visiting teachers for children who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired. The management of visiting teachers is the responsibility of the NCSE.
Visiting teachers (VT) for children who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired provide additional supports for such children, their families, and schools. Visiting Teachers will also discuss and demonstrate the management of assistive technologies for children who are blind/visually impaired.
Details of the services which are provided to schools and families by the visiting teacher service are available at ncse.ie/visiting-teachers .
In relation to your request for the number of blind and vision-impaired students who have received assistive technology from the Department in the past five years, my department does not keep records of particular disability categories applied for and accordingly those figures are not available.
Below are the total number of assistive technology applications received by the NCSE each year, the number that were approved and the expenditure by my Department.
|
Year |
Total number of applications received by NCSE |
Number of applications recommended by SENO |
Assistive Technology Expenditure |
|
2018 |
4588 |
3350 |
€2,382,785 |
|
2019 |
5271 |
3719 |
€2,497,684 |
|
2020 |
4741 |
3500 |
€2,013,236 |
|
2021 |
6373 |
4607 |
€3,603,563 |
|
2022 |
6845 |
4905 |
€3,735,778 |
