Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

398. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work that is being carried out to provide persons with an intellectual disability with a choice of educational options similar to that which other young persons have at the conclusion of second level education. [32199/13]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

399. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the supports that each of the publicly funded third level institutions in the State have to facilitate persons with either physical or intellectual disabilities in continuing education after second level education. [32200/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together.

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places at reduced points to school leavers with disabilities. Thirteen higher education institutions are participating in the scheme in 2013. An application for a place through this scheme is made to the Central Applications Office (www.cao.ie). For further information on DARE see also www.accesscollege.ie.

Core funding for access programmes is allocated each year as part of the overall budget of each designated higher education institution. This funding supports the provision of dedicated staff, services and supports for students with disabilities as well as for mature students and school-leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Every further and higher education institution has at least one member of staff with responsibility for liaising with students with disabilities, as required by the Disability Act 2005. In addition many institutions have a dedicated Disability Support Service with trained disability officers, learning support officers and other specialist staff.