Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the funding available for the inclusive learning initiative with NUI Maynooth and an organisation (details supplied) to enable students with an intellectual disability to undertake courses of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7323/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the funding available for the inclusive learning initiative with NUI Maynooth and an organisation (details supplied) to enable students with an intellectual disability to undertake courses of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7322/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 215 together.

The Inclusive Learning Initiative was a pilot initiative by Maynooth University that enabled a small group of students with an intellectual disability to participate in some modules of higher education programmes.

I understand that Maynooth University took the decision not to recruit any additional students for this pilot initiative in 2016. The existing students who are enrolled on the programme will be allowed to complete their studies.

This is an issue for Maynooth University in the first instance. It is up to each higher education institution to identify and manage its priorities within the budget allocated to it by the Higher Education Authority.