Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) for assistive technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17556/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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 with physical or communicative disabilities, for educational purposes, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013. Provision under the scheme is made for those pupils whose degree of disability is such that without such technological support it would not be possible for them to access the school curriculum.

The criteria which must be evidenced to qualify for support under the scheme are that the professional reports state that the equipment is essential for the effective education of the child, illustrating how the recommended equipment is to be used for educational purposes throughout the school day and that the needs outlined in the professional report cannot be met from within the school’s existing school I.T. equipment.

The scheme is targeted at pupils with specific educational needs and provides equipment of a direct educational benefit which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for those pupils to access the school curriculum.

An application for assistive technology support for the child in question was initially refused by my Department on the basis that the device is recommended for communication purposes; the professional report submitted sets out that the equipment will provide an augmentative means of communication for the child in question. Funding is provided by my Department, under the Assistive Technology scheme, for equipment for educational purposes, whereas communication devices are provided for by the Health Service Executive (HSE) through its Aids and Appliances scheme. The equipment recommended is to enable the child in question to communicate not only in school, but in the broader social context.

As the Deputy is aware officials at my Department meet cross sectorally with officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and the NCSE, on a regular basis, in order to consider issues in relation to the provision of educational services for children with special educational needs. The purpose of such cross sectoral meetings is to enhance co-ordination and cooperation between the health and education sectors in planning for the education of children and related matters across a range of service areas. This matter will, therefore, be raised with the interdepartmental Cross-Sectoral Team.