Written answers

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Brendan  RyanBrendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessary supports will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of my Department’s Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013, is to provide grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase the type of specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for students who have been diagnosed as having a serious physical disability and/or sensory or communicative disability to the extent that their ability to communicate through the medium of speech or writing is materially curtailed.

The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including assistive technology. SENOs make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making such recommendations, as set out in 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.

Although equipment is sanctioned under the Assistive Technology scheme for use by particular students, it is the property of the school, and the school’s management authority is responsible for maintenance, repair, and insurance of the equipment. 

I can confirm that an application for assistive technology for the pupil named by the deputy was received in my Department on 26 February and funding was not sanctioned to the school, on the basis that the SENO did not recommend that the application met the criteria for provision of equipment.

It is open to the school to appeal this decision. The appeals process is outlined on my Department’s website at the following link:

Separately, where an appeal has been unsuccessful, but new information becomes available,  it is open to the school to submit a new application to the SENO for consideration.

It is also open to parents to contact SENOs directly to discuss their child’s special educational needs, using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/seno-contact-list

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