Fund for Students with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018

Tuesday, 26 June 2018

Ceisteanna (166)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

166. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the support scheme for students with disabilities by 20%. [27517/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides financial support to higher education institutions to ensure that they are adequately resourced to cater for the needs of students with disabilities.

The Fund provides grants towards the individual needs assessment, provision of services, purchase of equipment and provision of academic supports for students with disabilities.  The scheme applies to students who have serious sensory, physical and/or communicative disabilities, including dyslexia.

The current allocation for FSD amounts to €9.6m therefore an increase of 20% would be estimated at €11.52m, an increase of €1.92m from current allocation.