Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if grant assistance is available from his Department for students attending third level education who suffer from dyslexia and who are in need of a laptop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35614/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Fund for Students with Disabilities, which is ESF-aided, was introduced in 1994. It provides funding to students with disabilities attending courses in Irish and U.K. third level institutions and, since 1998, in Post Leaving Certificate Centres. This Fund is administered by the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education (National Office).

The purpose of the fund is to provide students with serious physical and/or sensory disabilities with grant assistance towards the cost of special equipment, special materials and technological aids, targeted transport services, personal assistants and sign language interpreters. To be considered eligible for the fund an applicant must meet the prescribed criteria.

Applications for assistance are made by the individual students through the Disability/Access Officer of a third level Institution or by the Principal in the student's PLC College. The student, on registration for their course, should discuss their particular disability and the equipment or services required with the Disability/Access Officer or the Principal, as appropriate. Decisions on applications are taken by the National Access Office, and verified by an independent panel comprising representatives of agencies and individuals who have experience of working with people with disabilities.