Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding available for assistive technologies in a child’s home in cases in which their assistive device in the school is large and not portable. [28875/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional funding for assistive technology will be provided for a child (details supplied) in their home given their in-school device is not portable. [28876/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.

My Department provides funding to schools towards the cost of equipment and specialist software for educational purposes under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department's 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.

Provision of Grant Aid towards the provision of specialist equipment for use in the home is outside the remit of my Department and should instead be addressed to the Health Service Executive (HSE). Parents can access information on this through their local Health Centre, contact information is available on www.HSE.ie