Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2024
198. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider including sensory pods in the sensory room grant given schools that do not have the space or capacity for a room dedicated to provide a sensory space, sensory pods are a suitable alternative for these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/24]
View answerA sensory room in a school can enhance and promote the health and wellbeing of the whole school with a focus on both the culture and the environment. It is a designated area within a school that can support a student’s sensory preferences and needs and provide students with the individualised sensory input they need to self-regulate to be better prepared for learning and interacting with others.
Funding of €7,000 is made available by my Department's Loose Furniture & Equipment (F&E) Section for the provision of the start-up of a sensory room within a school. In order to be eligible for the grant, the school must demonstrate it has an NCSE approved ASD class and that there is a suitable room to house the sensory room (i.e. drawings of school layout with the sensory room and ASD class clearly marked). The sensory room must be a separate room from that of the ASD class and must have its own separate entry/exit. Only one sensory room grant is funded by my Department per school.
Unfortunately sensory pods are not eligible for this funding at present.
