Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding has been allocated in Budget 2026 for the review into how students with disabilities are accommodated at third level; when the review will commence and finish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55896/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My Department intends undertaking a Disabilities Demonstration Project aimed at identifying and developing the most effective supports for students with disabilities across the tertiary education system. The project will underpin the development of a policy framework focused on delivering a more flexible, responsive, and tailored model of support to better meet the diverse needs of these students.

A key element of the project will involve engaging with relevant stakeholders, including those with lived experience of disability and expertise in disability support. This engagement will help to ensure that the design and implementation of future supports are informed by real-world insights and best practice.

The project will also explore how students with disabilities can be better supported to access meaningful work experience and successfully transition into employment following their studies. In addition, it will examine key transition points from second-level education into Further and Higher Education, and the supports available throughout the student journey in third-level.

This initiative is closely aligned with the Department’s commitments under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030 and reflects Ireland’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It represents a significant step toward embedding equity and inclusion across the tertiary education landscape and will complement the existing supports already in place within the sector.

Funding for the project was previously secured, and it will be fully resourced from within my Department. This is an extensive project and I expect to make an announcement on the composition of the steering group and the terms of reference for the first phase of the project shortly.