Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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566. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding assistive technology for children with autism spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12867/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides funding to schools towards the cost of assistive technology for pupils in Primary, Post Primary and Special schools, for equipment and specialist software for educational purposes under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.

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.

This Circular also sets out that equipment is sanctioned under this scheme to support the assessed needs of individual pupils, but does not provide for allocations to be made for particular groups or categories of pupils.

My Department does not, provide for assistive technology for research purposes, such as that outlined in the Deputy's correspondence.

My Department also provides for training in assistive technology for teachers working with pupils with special educational needs through the Special Education Support Services (SESS), which provides continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers working with students with special educational needs. Specific training is provided in the use of Apps to help achieve curricular targets.

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 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 Assistive Technology scheme.