Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the sources of funding available from him to assist in the training of persons with learning, physical and sensory, or mental health disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2550/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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FÁS contracts with Specialist Training Providers (STPs) country-wide to deliver training programmes to people with disabilities. A total of 2,110 training places are available annually. FÁS also encourages all people with disabilities to avail of and participate in its broad range of mainline training options. In addition, the European Social Fund-supported Third Level Access Measure provides support for students with disabilities. The fund, known as the Fund for Students with Disabilities or FSD, is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. The FSD provides support to both Further and Higher Education institutions for the provision of services and supports for full-time students with disabilities. A total of €13.7m was approved to support 6,090 students through the Fund in 2010/11.