John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by students with disabilities in Colleges of Further Education who apply for supports to the Higher Education Authority, due to the fact that their courses are normally of 12 months duration and the applications for supports may not be processed for up to three months after commencement of the course; if she will request to the HEA to be more flexible in dealing with such applications so that they are dealt with in a more timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13773/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides funding to both further and higher education institutions for the provision of services and supports for full-time students with disabilities. In recent years, the demand for the fund has grown considerably. Provisional data for 2009-10 suggests that between 2008/09 and 2009/10 there has been an increase of 34% in applications approved for support. It is anticipated that approximately 5,450 students will be supported through the fund in 2009/10.

Applications from the further education sector have contributed to the overall increase in applications in recent years. For example, in 2003/04, funding was allocated to further education institutions to support 136 students. By 2009/10, this had increased by 338% to 596 students. A total of €3.4m has been provided to the further education sector to support students with disabilities from the fund in 2009/10.

Institutions apply to the HEA under FSD for supports on behalf of students. Applications are then assessed by the HEA years the HEA has prioritised the assessment of applications from the further education sector on the basis that most students are completing one year courses. The HEA operates an early application round for further education colleges. Between August and mid-October assessment of applications received from further education colleges takes priority. From mid-October current resources within the HEA are also allocated for assessment of applications received from the higher education sector. The HEA currently receives over 1,500 applications for assessment. However, throughout this period, the HEA continues to prioritise the assessment of applications from the further education sector to ensure that colleges receive funding as quickly as possible to support their students.

The HEA has also introduced a system of approval whereby institutions now receive a per-capita rate for certain categories of disability. This has been welcomed by the disability sector and has assisted in largely maintaining the assessment timeline process for further education students despite the continuing annual increase in the number applications each year. The HEA is currently working with my Department and other stakeholders in developing a new model of allocation for the fund. One of the aims of the new model, in the context of projected increases in applications for support in the coming years, will be to provide a quicker response to all institutions in relation to applications for support.