Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
180. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) was unsuccessful with their application for assistive learning technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21091/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
Based on the professional information provided to the SENO and in line with criteria set out in Circular 10/2013, the SENO was not in a position to recommend an assistive technology grant for the school concerned on behalf of the student.
It is open to the school to appeal this decision. The appeals process is outlined on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/237c68-assistive-technology-grant/. Any such appeal will be dealt with as a priority by my Department. Separately, where an appeal has been unsuccessful, but new information becomes available, it is open to the school to submit a new application to the SENO for consideration.
It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
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. Assistive technology can be seen as a critical enabler for those with special educational needs to gain the maximum benefit from a modern technologically focused education system. Where children with more complex disabilities require essential specialist equipment to access the school curriculum, which they do not already have, or which cannot be provided for them through the schools' existing provisions, schools may make an application for such equipment to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) under the terms of this scheme.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology/specialised equipment is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support.
Schools make applications directly to the SENO, providing details of the student’s special educational needs or disability, including details of the approach taken by the school in making relevant interventions.
In order to qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology Scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the student to access the curriculum.
SENOs will review the application, and professional reports provided in support of same, in order to establish whether the criteria of the scheme have been met. They will then make a recommendation to my Department as to whether or not assistive technology is required; and based on this recommendation, my Department will decide on the level of grant, if any, to be provided.
The type of equipment provided under the Assistive Technology Scheme is varied, and includes audiological supports for students with hearing impairment, braille equipment for children with visual impairment, and computer equipment with associated modified software for students with physical or severe communicative disabilities.
Communication devices or medical or therapy related devices which are not specific educational interventions or equipment specifically required as essential for school educational access, and which have a general application outside of school, are not provided for under the Assistive Technology scheme, however. Such equipment is normally provided for children with disabilities by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
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.
Circular 08/02 has been superseded by more recent circulars with regard to the allocation of Special Education Teaching support, but the criteria in relation to the categorisation of pupils with a Specific Learning Disability, contained in Appendix II, remain unchanged, and are as follows:
“Such children have been assessed by a psychologist as:
Being of average intelligence or higher; and
Having a degree of learning disability specific to basic skills in reading, writing or mathematics which places them at or below the 2nd percentile on suitable, standardised, norm-referenced tests.
Children who do not meet these criteria and, who in the opinion of the psychologist, have a specific learning disability are more properly the responsibility of the remedial teacher and/or the class teacher.”
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on https://ncse.ie/seno-contact-information.
