Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that teachers are allowed to refuse a child the use of assistive technology in a classroom even where it is recommended by a NEPS psychologist; and if he will indicate the circular in which this rule is set out [30416/14]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the circulars governing use of assistive technology in both primary and secondary schools. [30417/14]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the training available to teachers on assistive technology in the classroom. [30418/14]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the compulsory training available to teachers on assistive technology in the classroom. [30419/14]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered introducing a circular that will ensure children are allowed to use assistive technology in the class where it is recommended. [30420/14]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined the potential for allocating assistive technology to children rather than to a school in order that children may be permitted to bring a device home in the evenings, in the summer and when they transition from primary to secondary school. [30421/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 to 65, inclusive, together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy in relation to the provision of Assistive Technology support for pupils with Special Educational Needs is set out in Department of Education and Skills Circular 0010/2013. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where Assistive Technology is required.

In order to qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. As part of the application process, for which parental consent is required, schools set out how and in what manner the equipment which has been recommended in the professional report will be used in the classroom.

Although equipment is sanctioned to support a particular pupil, the equipment is sanctioned to a school and will, as a general rule, remain the property of the schools and be available for allocation to other or subsequent pupils with similar disabilities. Circular 0010/2013 explains that the pupil in question may, with the consent of the management authority, use the equipment at home. The Circular also sets out the position regarding the transfer of equipment when pupils change school. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school, they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.

I wish to explain also that my Department provides a range of supports for teachers in the area of Assistive Technology which are set out in Circular 0010/2013 also. These include support through the Special Education Support Service (SESS) which provides seminars and courses as well as support available through the SESS Support Scheme in the area of Assistive Technology, details of which are available at .

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the NCSE recently published comprehensive policy advice on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, which is available on its website www.ncse.ie. This advice recommended that the NCSE should establish a working group, with Assistive Technology expertise, to develop a national policy on standards for professional recommendations and to determine the supports required in an educational context and the best ongoing utilisation of these resources. The future of the Assistive Technology scheme will therefore be considered in the context of the implementation of this recommendation.

The NCSE has commissioned research on the use of assistive technology/equipment in supporting the education of children with special needs in schools. The outcome of this research will support the considerations of an Advisory Group which has been established, in relation to the future of the Assistive Technology scheme.