Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the secondary schools in County Donegal that are using assistive technology geared toward specific literary support for students with dyslexia; the schools in County Donegal that have applications with his Department for such technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35211/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides for a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment for the use of students in second-level schools who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and/or communicative disabilities of a degree which makes ordinary communication through speech and/or writing impossible for them. The purpose of the grant-aid is to provide the students in question with equipment of direct educational benefit to them. Examples of such equipment include computers, word processors, tape recorders, software, etc.

The scheme is driven by applications from schools on behalf of individual students, as and when specific needs present. Following the establishment of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), all applications for assistive technology are submitted by school management to the Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) with assigned responsibility for the school. The SENO examines applications and makes a recommendation to my Department. My Department only maintains records of applications for the Assistive Technology Grant. Since 2003 the following second level schools in Donegal have been approved for an Assistive Technology Grant to purchase equipment and/or software to assist students with dyslexia:

Errigal College, Letterkenny

Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town

St Catherine's Vocational School, Killybegs

Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana

Magh Éne College, Bundoran

Carrick Vocational School

Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon

St Columba's Comprehensive, Glenties

Carndonagh Community School.

My Department has no current applications for assistive technology from second level schools in Donegal.