Written answers

Tuesday, 8 March 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding and progress that has been made under the fund for students with disabilities for the delivery of key services and supports for students with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12772/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) supports participation by students with a disability in further and higher education. The purpose of the FSD is to provide resources to further and higher education institutions for the delivery of key services and supports for students with disabilities on full-time and part-time courses. The FSD aims to support the personal, educational and professional development of the participating student and contribute to the achievement of their full potential. The FSD operates within the context of the wider education policy landscape in Ireland, which emphasises the importance of the system being one in which students of all backgrounds can succeed within the mainstream, including those with disabilities. The FSD is designed to complement, rather than substitute for, the core system.

The annual allocation to the fund is €9.6m for both Further and Higher Education. In 2019/2020, circa 16,500 students were supported through the fund.

Funding can be used to provide supports and accommodations in any of the following broad categories:

- assistive technology equipment and software (including student training)

- non-medical helpers (e.g. personal assistants, notetakers)

- academic/learning support

- deaf supports (e.g. sign language interpreters, SpeedText)

- transport support

The funding allocation for the Higher Education sector amounts to €7.658m annually.

The number of students in receipt of supports funded under FSD in Higher Education by Disability Category has increased significantly over the period  2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20.  The table below shows that the total number of students supported between 2017/2018 and 2019/2020 increased from 11,773 to 14,358.  This represents an increase of 2,585 students or 22%.

The table below refers to primary disability only. Some students may report more than one disability.

Disability Category 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
N % N % N %
ADD/ADHD 549 5% 630 5% 701 5%
Autistic Spectrum Disorder 812 7% 1,023 8% 1,190 8%
Blind/Visual Impairment 218 2% 221 2% 234 2%
Deaf/Hard of Hearing 314 3% 358 3% 364 3%
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia) 726 6% 785 6% 1,016 7%
Mental Health 1,600 14% 1,963 15% 2,199 15%
Other 3 0% 0 0% 0%
Physical Disability/Mobility Impairment 741 6% 827 6% 867 6%
Significant Ongoing Illness 1,345 11% 1,586 12% 1,650 11%
Specific Learning Difficulties 4,857 41% 5,192 39% 5,479 38%
Speech, Language and Communication Disorder* n/a n/a 133 1% n/a  n/a
Neurological Condition 608 5% 480 4% 658 5%
Total 11,773 100% 13,198 100% 14,358 100%

In January 2021, I approved a number of strategic projects under the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) aimed at supporting students with disabilities to access and engage with higher education. The initiatives, which involved 24 higher education institutions (HEI) and €5.8m in expenditure, are broad and are aimed at improving access to higher education for people with a disability, to improving college campuses and to assist staff with training and development.

The following is an overview of the range of projects approved:

- Commitment to the embedding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and mainstreaming principles in HEI teaching and learning practices through e.g. recruitment of staff, staff training, technological supports and other student supports

- Enhancement of online teaching and learning experience and supports for students with disabilities e.g. captioning, virtual learning environments, alignment with EU Web Accessibility Directive

- Enhancement of campus experience for students with disabilities e.g. wayfinding apps, sensory assistance reporting

- Expansion and upgrading of Assistive Technology (AT) equipment and supports

- Improvements in physical access and refurbishments of spaces, e.g. autism-friendly rooms and spaces, tactile wayfinding maps, loop systems for deaf and hard-of-hearing students

- Projects that support better transitions to higher education for students with disabilities

- Developing and delivering initiatives to promote positive mental health and well-being

- Commitment to research and data analysis to establish best practice guidelines for access and disability services

- Conducting campus accessibility audits which will inform accessibility guidelines and policies

With effect from the 2020/21 academic year, responsibility for the Further Education portion of the FSD [€1.942m] transferred to SOLAS, who assumed responsibility for the management of the FSD for the further education and training sector including the drafting and issuing of guidelines.

In relation to the numbers supported in the Further Education Sector I can confirm that in 2017/2018, 1,715 students were supported, in 2018/2019, 1,678 students were supported and in 2019/2020, 1,966 students were supported through the FSD.

My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review. We want to develop a better understanding of what works best within the different models, and to look at how we can assist people to access and progress through higher and further education and training. 

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