Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to see the Cathaoirleach back. I am pleased that €50 million has today been allocated to the primary schoolbooks programme. This scheme, which was started by the former Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Joe McHugh, several years ago has evolved since then. The current Minister, Deputy Foley, deserves full commendation for bringing it to the level it is at now. Access to information, the written word and the syllabus is extremely important, appropriate and should happen.

Unfortunately, one group of people will not be able to access the syllabus with any great ease. I refer to people with print disabilities, including people with dyslexia, those who are blind and visually impaired and those who have other mobility issues in terms of accessing information. This situation can be resolved. A project called Bookshare is providing books within 24 hours in a format accessible to people with print disabilities who need them. It is operating extremely successfully at third level. It can operate at primary and secondary levels as well. It will cost the Department of Education €100,000.

I commend the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, for making the money available this year to allow Bookshare to be provided and made available at third level. Another €100,000 would secure the service for primary and secondary levels. This would mean every book issued by a publisher in this country for the education syllabus could be available in whatever format would suit, including in large print, in a readable option, in Braille or on a particular screen designed and suitable for somebody with other print disabilities. A sum of €100,000 out of €50 million is a small amount of money and I implore the Minister for Education to rectify this situation as soon as possible.