Mr. Aaron Mullaniff:

I might take one or two of those questions and then bring in my colleagues, Ms O'Dwyer and Ms Doherty. In terms of the asks, from an access to learning perspective we are looking for recurring funding for Bookshare Ireland. The cost of running Bookshare Ireland was €466,000 in 2023. There are currently 2,630 students on the platform and there is no recurring funding whatsoever in place.

I will tie in the other asks, if that is okay. From a learning to access perspective, we are looking at having dedicated staffing in place to support the consistent assessment and development of skills, specifically in the areas of digital competency or assistive technology and orientation and mobility skills.

There is a request around ensuring that summer provision is tailored to the specific needs of blind or vision-impaired children in terms of where they are at so that it is delivered in a valued-added way. We are also looking at the transition year project and the importance of transitioning. We know that only half of kids transition between second level and third level. When supports are pulled away, kids hit the proverbial cliff. Ms Doherty has been doing brilliant work, which I am sure she will speak to shortly, around the comprehensive planning and meaningful transition opportunities that are required in that regard.

There probably needs to be a broader understanding of the importance of the expanded core curriculum. Blind or vision-impaired kids, as a result of their disabilities, have a reduced opportunity to learn incidentally by observing others. During a child's early years, 90% of learning is incidental – emotional, social and physical development. If there is no early intervention, there are delays in those.

I might ask Ms O'Dwyer to answer the Deputy's question on inclusive education.