James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. As I mentioned earlier in response to Deputy Conway's question, I have increased the investment into provision for students with disabilities. We have a number of different programmes. PATH 4 is for students with intellectual disabilities, but there are a number of different types of disability, obviously, and there is a disability demonstration project being put together, which is a new initiative from the Department just during my time. It will allow for an engagement on different options: what supports are available, what is the best model, looking at best practice and trying to roll that out, and in a way that is unique to each learner's needs because what might work for one may not work for another and we should not presuppose that.

One issue that is raised a lot is having what are known as PAs for learners in third level or further education. The feedback is that is not necessarily helpful to a student who wants to socialise or find their feet. They do not necessarily want somebody accompanying them. It is maybe different at primary level but as students go on through education, they want to enjoy a degree of dignity, autonomy and independence. There is a balance with that in terms of the person accompanying them, which is one model but there are others as well. There is quite a bit happening with that. We will get a note to the Deputy on that separately.