Mr. Aaron Mullaniff:

I thank Deputy Farrell. I might take one or two of those questions and then divide the others up.

There has been some change in the statistics. We have been following the national access plan in higher and further education and there are about 100 more students participating, which is really positive and great. The NCBI itself has gone out to incentivise those transitioning into higher and further education. We created a bursary and we have supported between 14 and 16 students to date with the additional costs. They have to take more taxis and buy assistive technology so there is an increased burden. On top of that, the cost of disability report identified that the additional burden of living is between €10,000 and €13,000 for blind and visually impaired people. They are facing all those costs. The minimum essential standard of living report also highlighted the same costs on a day-to-day basis.