Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available for students with disabilities in further education and training under Budget 2026.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55831/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy, for this important question. My Department and I are committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities in line with the Programme for Government.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities has been a key initiative to provide students with disabilities with the necessary support and equipment to participate in Post-Leaving Certificate courses on an equal basis with their peers. €5.7 million was allocated for this fund in 2025. In Budget 2026, I have secured increased funding for the Fund for Students with Disabilities in Further Education and Training, increasing the allocation by €2 million. Included in this increase is funding to cover transport costs for students with intellectual disabilities on a range of FET courses. My Department is currently liaising with SOLAS and ETBI as to how best to implement this funding from January.

Budget 2026 also ensures the continuation of a range of specialist supports for students with disabilities in FET. For example, through Specialist Training Provision the ETBs contract the National Learning Networks and other providers to offer training to learners who require more intensive support than is available in mainstream settings.

Making mainstream FET more accessible to all learners, irrespective of their specific needs, will remain a key priority for the ETBs in 2026. With support from SOLAS, Education and Training Boards Ireland and AHEAD, ETBs will continue to increase their capacity to enact Universal Design for Learning and to make Reasonable Accommodations.

In Budget 2026, I have also secured an additional €1 million for the Fund for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education.