Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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The witnesses are very welcome. It is a privilege to hear directly from them and the experience of students going through our education system who have the challenge of being visually impaired or blind. I have some specific questions. I might group them together and if the witnesses could come back with their observations, that would be fantastic.

Mr. Mullaniff described inclusive and accessible education as being low incidence but high need. What does inclusive and accessible education look like? What are the primary asks of the NCBI from the Department in that regard? In a similar vein, what resources are available for teachers through training programs for qualification courses?

Mr. Mullaniff spoke of Bookshare funding and the need for recurring annual funding. What is the current funding that is provided? What is the funding model? Is it multi-annual or is an application required every year? What does it entail?

Mr. Mullaniff also spoke of barriers to STEM. What are those barriers? I know from experience of one school that applied for a technological grant for a child who was visually impaired and was refused because the criteria were laden down in bureaucracy and red tape. The school was caught between a rock and hard place. The child needed the technology, but on paper there was a statement made that they did not need it enough, even though it was obvious from the school's perspective that it would have been a tremendous resource to them.

Mr. Mullaniff made a brief statement on waiting months to have something provided. What is going on there? That is very concerning. If he can address those questions, that would be brilliant.