Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be given a personal computer for education purposes. [12477/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a scheme of grants to primary and post-primary schools to facilitate the purchase of special equipment, including computers, for the use of pupils with special educational needs. An application for a home computer for the pupil referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 23 September 2003. The matter was referred to my Department's inspectorate, which expressed the view that adequate computer funding was available to the school to cater for the educational needs of the pupil in question. The school authorities were notified accordingly on 21 October 2003. Under the terms of the scheme pupils may, with the consent of the board of management, use computer equipment at home to assist them in their education. It is open to parents to discuss this option with the school management.