Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delays in processing and paying grants for third level students with dyslexia who have been approved for EU funding under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013; the reason many of these students whose applications are approved in December of each year do not receive payment until April of the following year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32217/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Fund for Students with Disabilities has witnessed exponential growth over the last few academic years. The Fund continues to grow by approximately 20% per annum. Between 2003-4 and 2006-7 there has been an increase of 63% in the number of applications. Most categories of disabilities are increasing as the volume increases year on year, however, applications from people with specific learning difficulties (SLD) / dyslexia have increased by 116% between 2003-4 and 2006-7. Applications from students with dyslexia continually account for 50-55% of all applications to the Fund each year. In 2006-7 over 2,400 students were approved for funding.

The Fund is co-financed by the government and the European Social Fund. Applications to the Fund are made to the National Access Office (NAO) by the institution on the student's behalf. The funding approved would be paid directly to the institution, who would use the funding to put in place the supports approved for each student. Institutions are required to complete financial returns in relation to the expenditure on the Fund for each academic year.

At the beginning of each academic year applications which were approved in previous years are automatically renewed (renewal applications) by the NAO. Payment of these applications is followed up shortly afterwards. This ensures that each institution has a certain level of funding available at the beginning of the academic year while first-time applications that have been submitted can be assessed by the NAO.