Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on his plans to enhance disability supports for students in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19707/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Inclusion is one of six strategic goals set out in my Department's statement of strategy. The national access plan, NAP, has identified a number of priority groups who are under-represented in higher education and need additional focus, including students with disabilities. The Department has provided funding of an additional €35 million to support the objectives of the NAP over its lifetime from 2022 to 2028, including a new PATH 4 stream, which puts a further focus on students with a disability, including those with an intellectual disability. PATH 4 supports inclusive, universally designed higher education environments and course provision for students with intellectual disabilities.

The first phase of funding, of €3 million, was distributed in the 2022-23 academic year and supported higher education institutions to embed universal design approaches and inclusive practices. An additional €1.8 million was announced in February of this year to continue the phase 1 implementation of universal design. Phase 2 is a three-year pilot programme to support an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities, with a total investment of more than €10 million.

The successful courses, which have been designed specifically to meet the diverse range of needs of students with intellectual disabilities, were announced in February of this year, with the majority of courses commencing in September. The fund for students with a disability also supports participation by students with disabilities in approved further and higher education courses. Last December, my Department announced an increase to the annual fund for students with disabilities, FSD, of 5%, or just under €383,000. This brings the total funding available in 2024 to more than €8 million.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the response. As the Minister will know, students with disabilities suffer significant disadvantage when it comes to college attendance and face additional costs to provide for their needs and equipment. The disability access route to education, DARE, programme provides significant supports to students with disabilities to access third level. The Minister's predecessor introduced the scheme in 2022. Are there any plans to enhance the funding for it in budget 2025?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As I said in response to other Deputies who raised issues regarding the budget, I will be guided to a large degree by many of the issues that are raised directly by Members of the House, including people such as the Deputy. The proportion of new entrants in 2022 who had a disability was 12.5%, whereas the current figure is 13.8%, with a target of 16%, so we are going in the right direction. The Taoiseach, the former Minister, Deputy Harris, was anxious that in respect of PATH 4, in particular, we would make strides in this area. As I said in response to Deputy Stanton, however, it comes with a broader suite of issues than just providing places. I go back to the scenario of children who have entered primary school and receive resources, whether special needs assistants or additional hours outside the classroom, and the same applies to second level. They and their families are very concerned that that cliff edge will not present itself at third level. This is a policy I want to turn my attention to in the months ahead, and suggestions from people such as the Deputy and other Members will be welcomed.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister correctly said, students with disabilities now represent a greater proportion of the student population and it is trending in the right direction, but they are still significantly under-represented. While I, like other Deputies, do not expect the Minister to reveal any details of the budget today, I emphasise that a greater level of investment and resources could be placed into this area to get students with disabilities greater access to third level education, which would be most welcome. I ask that due consideration also be given, in the coming months as the Minister prepares for the budget, to the NAP, which is due to be reviewed in 2025. It currently provides about €3 million a year, but I would imagine that could be reviewed. Furthermore, the fund for students with disabilities may also be due a review.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I do not disagree with the Deputy. His county colleague Deputy Stanton raised circumstances for people that may seem simple but can be very challenging, relating to, for instance, access to the most basic of facilities on campuses, including bathrooms, and the tying-up of transport. There will definitely be a requirement for local authorities, some State agencies and other Government actors in this space to help us because, while ours is a policy-led Department, we do not have the wherewithal to do everything, but we certainly have the wherewithal to call out deficiencies that exist and present themselves for people with either intellectual or physical disabilities who are trying to navigate their way through the tertiary education system.