Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that are available to students with learning disabilities who have special educational needs while attending third level institutions and institutes of higher learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46898/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the students grant scheme, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to students in further and higher education. The student grant is administered on behalf of my Department by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).

Students experiencing difficulties in completing their application forms, due to issues relating to a disability, can contact SUSI for assistance as follows:

Phone: 076-1087874, E-mail: support@susi.ie, Twitter: @susihelpdesk, Facebook: Facebook.com/susisupport.

My Department allocates significant resources to ensure that students can participate fully in their academic courses and are not disadvantaged by reason of a disability.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) allocates funding to approved colleges of further and higher education for the delivery of key services, reasonable accommodations and supports for learners with disabilities on full-time approved courses. The institutions are responsible for the management and allocation of the Fund at local level throughout the year and students who wish to apply for funding should contact the Disability Officer in the relevant institution.

Another support measure is the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme, which is operated through the CAO on behalf of Irish Universities Association (IUA). The DARE scheme is a third-level admissions scheme for students with a disability offering places on reduced points basis to school leavers with disabilities who are under 23.