Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
552. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education for a copy of all policy circulars that outline the diagnosed disabilities and/or medical conditions that apply for grant funding for assistive technology for students with physical or communicative disabilities in primary or secondary schools. [27799/23]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. I am delighted to say I have secured an additional €2 million funding 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 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 who require essential specialist equipment in order to access the school curriculum. I see assistive technology as a critical enabler for those with special educational needs to gain the maximum benefit from a modern technologically focused education system and this increased allocation shows my continued commitment to ensuring that a full range of resources, not just teachers and SNAs, are available to support children who need it.
The criteria which must be evidenced to qualify for support under the Department of Education Assistive Technology scheme are that the professional reports state in each case that the equipment is essential for the effective education of the child, illustrating how the recommended equipment is to be used for educational purposes throughout the school day, and that the needs outlined in the professional report cannot be met from within the school’s existing school I.T. equipment.
An assessment indicating that equipment would be beneficial, desirable or useful or would achieve improvement in performance is not sufficient since this could be true in the case of any child. Equipment may only be provided where medical and/or other professional reports outline that the degree of communicative disability is such that this equipment is essential to allow the pupil to access education, and set out how the equipment will provide for this.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special education supports. SENOs do not adjudicate on the veracity of recommendations as to the needs of children. Where they encounter recommendations relating to the quantum of supports to be provided to schools they will disregard such recommendations. They will rely upon the professional judgement of the diagnosing professional as to the needs of the child and the diagnosis of the child's disability or identified care need.
While the qualifying criteria for Assistive Technology support are set out in the Department’s Circular 0010/2013, the Report of the Special Education Review Committee - also known as the SERC Report - and the Department’s Circular 08/02 provide the basis on which the Department sets the criteria for special education supports for children with special educational needs.
I can confirm that my Department is currently reviewing this scheme to ensure that it is working effectively as possible for these children and that the resources are allocated appropriately moving from a diagnosis based system to a needs based systems. The review in ongoing and is expected to complete by autumn 2023. This process will have a consultative element and relevant stakeholders will be invited to participate.
As I have mentioned, this scheme is part of an overall approach. In April 2022, my Department announced the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and associated grant funding for all recognised primary and post-primary schools for digital technology infrastructure.
This strategy will advance the embedding of digital technologies across teaching, learning and assessment, building on the work under previous strategies. It aims to further support the school system so that all students across our schools have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an ever-evolving digital world successfully.
As part of this strategy an ICT Grant will be provided to schools, with €200 million committed over the period of the Strategy. This approach facilitates multi-annual planning by schools to allow them to plan effectively for all of their children.
