Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the grant assistance available for primary school students with a specific speech and language impairment for the purchase of computer equipment for the home to help with reading, speaking and overall education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26120/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resources to schools to support pupils with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required.

Schools may apply to the NCSE for the provision of assistive technology required to support pupils who have been assessed as having a special educational need that requires specific assistive technology support in order to access the curriculum. The technology is the property of the school and the use of the equipment in the home is at the discretion of the school. Funding is not available to my Department for the provision of computer equipment in a pupil's home.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.