Vol. 535 No. 1
672 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider providing computers for families who have problems and who cannot afford the outlay involved following his announcement for the provision of the ICT Project for students with dyslexia and other reading and writing difficulties for 31 schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12173/01]
The initiative I announced in December 2000 is a highly innovative nationwide pilot scheme to assist second level students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Thirty-one schools are participating in the pilot project costing £2 million. Each student with dyslexia will be provided with a laptop computer for school and home use. A grant of £2,700 per student will be paid for the purchase of laptops and software for those second year students identified as eligible for the project. Each school will receive £3,000 in grant aid to purchase back-up equipment for the project teachers. Dedicated teacher training will also be provided and the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, will co-ordinate the project. The project will explore innovative ways of using information and communications Technology, – ICT – to assist students' learning. Assistive technology can help students to work more independently within mainstream classes or in small groups and allow for flexibility in pupil learning.
My Department also operates a scheme for the provision of grants for second-level schools towards the purchase of equipment, including computer equipment and software, for the use of pupils with certain disabilities or communication difficulties including severe dyslexia. The purpose of the scheme is to provide such pupils with equipment of direct educational benefit to them. It is open to all second-level schools with such a pupil or pupils enrolled to submit an application under that scheme.
