Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans she has to review the rates awarded for assistive technology in view of the Departmental cap on funding for laptops; if consideration is given to the need to ensure funding is provided for laptops that support the possible future software needs of students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52517/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. Equipment is provided under this scheme for children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment which they do not already have, or which cannot be provided for them through the school’s existing IT provision.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of Special Education Needs Officers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for assistive technology support.

Schools make applications directly to the SENO, providing details of the student’s special educational needs or disability, including details of the approach taken by the school in making relevant interventions. Professional reports (from psychologists or occupational therapists, for example) must be submitted by the school along with the application. These reports must have a recent and comprehensive professional assessment of the nature and extent of disability, and outline that the equipment is essential for the pupil to access the curriculum.

Equipment may only be provided where medical and/or other professional reports outline that the degree of communicative disability is such that this equipment is essential to allow the pupil to access education and set out how the equipment will provide for this.

The type of equipment provided under the assistive technology scheme is varied, and includes audiological supports for students with hearing impairment, braille equipment for children with visual impairment, and computer equipment with associated modified software for students with physical or severe communicative disabilities.

Communication devices or medical or therapy related devices which are not specific educational interventions, or equipment specifically required as essential for school educational access, that have a general application outside of school, which are normally provided for children with disabilities by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and which are provided for through the HSE Aids and Appliances scheme are not provided for under this scheme.

SENOs review the application and professional reports, in order to establish whether the criteria of the scheme have been met. A recommendation is then made to my Department as to whether or not assistive technology is required; and based on this recommendation, my Department decides on the level of grant, if any, to be provided.

In the majority of applications €550.00 is the maximum amount of grant payable by my Department for a Laptop as this level of grant aid is sufficient for most assistive technology educational software in Primary and Post Primary schools. However in exceptional cases my officials can grant in excess of this amount. Such cases can arise when a pupil may need high level visual aids such as magnifying reading devices and braille equipment, or a pupil may have a high level of need with mobility.

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

It is anticipated that work in relation to reviewing the assistive technology scheme will commence in 2022.