Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2017
45. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to broaden the opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to undertake third level courses of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10111/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncreasing access to higher education by people with disabilities is one of the targets in the National Access Plan 2015-2019.
The plan sets an overall target that 8% of new entrants to HE will be people with disabilities by the end of the plan. The most recent HEA key facts and figures show that the proportion of entrants indicating that they have a disability has almost doubled compared to similar data gathered eight years ago (7.8% in 2015 compared to 4.2% in 2007).
There are a number of specific supports in place to promote access to higher education for students with disabilities.
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) offers places at reduced points to school leavers with disabilities.
My Department, through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), provides financial support to higher education institutions to ensure that they are adequately resourced to cater for the needs of students with disabilities. This funding is allocated to each institution through the recurrent grant allocation model. This funding allows higher education institutions to provide individual needs assessment for students with disabilities. This is key to providing the necessary supports and accommodations for each student.
My Department and the HEA also support the Fund for Students with Disabilities. In 2015-16 funding of over €10m was allocated to support over 10,000 students in higher and further education. My Department is currently reviewing the operation of this Fund. While the review is currently ongoing, the consultation with students undertaken as part of the review has clearly indicated the importance of the fund in promoting access for students with disabilities.
The HEA also support the work of the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD) who are an advocacy and policy development body for students with disabilities.
In addition, a number of higher education institutions have put in place specific programmes that are intended to include students with intellectual disabilities in third level. These include the Certificate in Contemporary Living which is delivered by a number of institutions.
