Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
435. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of post-secondary education follow-on courses that are available for persons with intellectual disabilities; the location of these courses; the primary discipline area covered by these courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13134/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the Further Education and Training, FET, sector, the Specialist Training Provision (STP) programme addresses the identified training needs of people with both physical and intellectual disabilities who are experiencing exclusion and labour market disadvantage in the form of vocational training programmes. Courses are generally one to two years in duration, are delivered all year round and lead to accreditation at levels 1-6 on the NFQ. Course examples include ICT and vocational multi-skills. STPs can provide a number of enhanced services for its learners including additional training duration; adapted equipment; transport arrangements; enhanced programme content which may be required for a person with a disability to achieve their potential. An enhanced trainer-learner ratio is available on these programmes. STP is currently contracted out by the 16 Education and Training Boards, ETBs, around the country. There are currently 29 National Learning Network centres delivering STP, and an additional 15 independent providers.
Outside of STP provision, there are no specific courses in the FET sector aimed at people with an intellectual disability. However, the FET sector is committed to increasing levels of inclusion through the provision of high quality, more accessible and flexible education and training programmes and supports suited to the identified needs of individuals, including for learners with an intellectual disability. There are range of supports available in the FET sector for learners with an intellectual disability, and the ETB will discuss with the learner their needs and suitability for the selected course requirements. Also, to further improve inclusion in the FET sector, guidelines for practitioners in relation to implementing a Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, approach in the FET sector were published by SOLAS last year, and this approach aims to reduce obstacles to learning by taking into account the needs of learners of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Ten Higher Education Institutions provide follow-on courses. These include the following:
- DCU
- DKIT
- IADT
- LIT
- MIC
- MTU Cork
- TCD
- TU Dublin – Blanchardstown
- TU Dublin – Tallaght
- UCC
Course examples in HEIs is to enable the learner with an intellectual disability to develop relevant knowledge and competence and to be able to use a range of skills under supervision. It also helps them to develop a lifelong learning ethos with the promotion of inclusion to third level education.
I will shortly be launching a new National Access Plan which will have ambitious targets for representation of people who are under-represented in higher education. This Plan will focus on improving the learning experience and success of learners. The new plan will include specific supports for persons with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities.
