Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for his genuine support for the roll-out of programmes for students with intellectual disabilities, for his work on the Joint Committee on Autism, for attending our launch of the expansion of courses for students with intellectual disability, and for his tireless advocacy for personal assistants, which I also acknowledge. I want to recognise that. As the Deputy is aware, earlier this month I was delighted to be in a position to announce that ten higher education institutions have been awarded funding to provide a range of courses over the next three years for students with an intellectual disability. It is the happiest and most important announcement in politics that I have ever been involved in. It has the ability to transform lives.

These courses will commence in September and we have provision for around 150 places in the first year. This includes the certificate in general learning on skills for independent learning in Dundalk Institute of Technology, as referenced by Deputy Ó Murchú.

Significant consultation took place in respect of this initiative and I met many students during the consultation period. These consultations highlighted very clearly the diverse range of students’ needs and this was communicated to institutions to allow them to tailor their proposals accordingly. I am pleased the institutions have very carefully considered all matters, such as student supports, in their course proposals. In recognition of this, we have ensured that part of the funding allocated to the institutions can be used to provide financial, pastoral and educational supports to students, including for supporting travel costs and personal assistants, which is an important message I want to set out today.

On the specific question of access to the student grant scheme administered by SUSI, as the Deputy will be aware, this scheme operates within the parameters set out in primary legislation. As the legislation currently stands, the courses proposed by the various institutions are not likely to meet the eligibility criteria for the student grant administered by SUSI. Hence, we have allowed for student support, including financial, educational and pastoral, to be included in the funding we have allocated to the institutions. This is very much the first phase of the initiative. Over the coming three years, we are going to learn and reflect on wider policy and funding. I hope we are going to reform the SUSI Act because I believe the primary legislation needs reform. In the meantime, I am satisfied we have provided funding in our allocation to those institutions and top-sliced that, if you like, to enable them to meet some of those support needs for students.

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