Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for assisted technology grant in counties Longford and Westmeath; and the steps being taken to ensure there is no further delay in ensuring the equipment is in place before the re-opening of the schools. [6893/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Departments assistive technology scheme provides grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as essential for pupils with physical or communicative disabilities to access the school curriculum.

Applications are completed by schools and sent to the NCSE for recommendation and submission to my Department for processing.

My Department put arrangements in place with the NCSE to process existing applications received by email or post while the Covid 19 restrictions are in place.

As school buildings reopen for access by teachers my Department and the NCSE will extend these arrangements to new applications made by schools.

In 2020 to date my Department has received and processed 15 applications from schools in Co. Westmeath and 5 from schools in Co. Longford. There are no unprocessed applications on hand from schools in either county.