Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I apologise if my understanding of where I was on the list of Commencement Matters differed from the Leas-Chathaoirleach's understanding.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that and thank the Senator for his apology. I am only reading from a list presented to me by the secretary.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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These things happen.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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There is no issue. I thank the Senator.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the important matter of Bookshare Ireland, a facility run by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, NCBI, to allow blind and visually impaired people to access books. It is a facility where books are accessed from various libraries all over the world and shared.By its name, Bookshare means the sharing of books and other texts for people with disabilities such as those who are blind or have a visual impairment or dyslexia. Imagine walking into a bookshop and finding 90% of the shelves empty. Unfortunately, 90% of the books that are available are not accessible to blind and visually impaired people because they are not available in a Braille, audio or digitally accessible format. A number of years ago, the National Council for the Blind set up a database of books from all over the world to increase the number of books available to blind people and those with visual impairments. It has been remarkably successful, particularly for young people in third level education. As somebody who went through the third level system in the 1990s and struggled with text, this Bookshare project would have been incredible had it been available in my day. Thankfully, it is available now.

I acknowledge the former Minister of State with responsibility for higher education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, who invested initially to set up Bookshare, but the problem is that it needs to be sustainable going forward and there is no funding for it. I have spoken to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science about this matter on a number of occasions and I know he is committed to ensuring Bookshare is sustainable going forward. I have put down this Commencement matter just give certainty to the thousands of people who use Bookshare daily given that it is so important when it comes to access to information. Access to information and education is a real equaliser and creates level playing pitches but when people do not have access to information, books and written material, the playing pitch is not level. This is a critical project that needs to receive funding from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I hear what Senator Conway is saying about the importance of this scheme and I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the House on this matter on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Bookshare Ireland is the National Council for the Blind in Ireland's accessible digital library for people who are blind or vision impaired. The NCBI's library team supports requests to provide accessible reading material in a variety of digital formats to students with print disabilities, including those in higher and most recently further education. In addition, the service also provides access to the digital library to students with a print disability, namely, learning disabilities, including dyslexia, or physical disabilities that prevent access to standard print. Bookshare Ireland estimates that as many as one in ten students in higher and further education in Ireland has a print disability and may benefit from accessing a service like Bookshare Ireland.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not currently fund the Bookshare programme and, as such, I am not in a position to update the House on the funding model for the long-term sustainability of the Bookshare programme. However, I can provide an update on the Department's interactions with Bookshare Ireland. In 2019, a once-off capital support was provided in the amount of €150,000 by the former Minister of State at the Department of Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, to help the NCBI launch Bookshare Ireland. Bookshare Ireland now supports over 3,000 people, including about 1,140 students. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has received a proposal from the NCBI that seeks a reciprocal partnership approach with his Department in respect of this programme. The funding sought is in addition to the variable funding provided by NCBI fund-raising. Officials from my Department have engaged with the NCBI on its proposal and are considering it. Obviously, we have just agreed our budget and the Department will work with the NCBI to find a pathway forward.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will spend over €350 million on student supports and related activities in 2022, including the fund for students with disabilities, FSD, and initiatives to support the national access plan. The FSD supports participation by students with a disability in further and higher education. The aim is to ensure that students can participate fully in education or on an equal basis with their peers. The disability officers actively promote the ethos of inclusive learning for all students. Recently, the FSD has also been used for projects to develop strategic disability services in higher education institutions and supports for students. Examples include inclusive design in teaching and learning, improving online teaching and learning practices, staff training, improving campus experience for students with disabilities, assistive technology supports and autism-friendly spaces.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The information he provided is factually correct. This service is not currently funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. There is a proposal from the NCBI for a service level agreement or partnership approach to funding it. This week, the State announced free school books for everybody but if this service is not funded by the State, a voluntary NGO will not have the resources to keep supporting this project. I would hate to see what has been achieved through Bookshare lost. In the overall context, €100,000 per year, which I understand is the request, is not a huge amount of money but the difference it would make to many thousands of people in this country is immense. I would appreciate it if the Minister would pass on those comments to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Hopefully, this situation can be resolved.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As someone who is a big reader and loves to read, the image created by the Senator of a library with 90% of the shelves vacant is one that resonates very strongly with me. It recognises the hugely valuable service provided by Bookshare. It is a new service that opens up access to literature, fiction and education for those with a print impairment. There is a proposal with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I am happy to raise the Senator's concerns with him. There is no better man than the Senator when it comes to raising it directly with the Minister as I know he has already done. Hopefully, we will be in a position to provide more longer term support for what is clearly an extremely valuable service.