Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 107: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if provision can or will be made to provide a computer to assist the education of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42366/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 which make ordinary communication through speech and/or writing impossible for them. The purpose of the grant-aid is to provide such students 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. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to a specific pupil is not readily identifiable. However, if the Deputy could provide further details in relation to the pupil concerned, I will ensure the information is forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.