Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 July 2025
235. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will provide funding to a school (details supplied) to provide for a sunken trampoline that was recommended by the occupational therapist and physiotherapist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36885/25]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware my department supports schools through funding from the furniture & equipment scheme (F&E) to have sufficient appropriate furniture and equipment to meet the needs of the vast majority of children. However, as the furniture and equipment needs of some children are highly sensitive and individualised, these applications for funding are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
For this small cohort of children, part of the application process requires the submission of an Occupational Therapist’s (OT) report which details the individual requirements of a child, and the associated furniture and equipment needs.
It is not always possible to fund individual sensory and therapeutic items, as some of the items recommended by an OT are outside the current remit of the scheme. It should be noted that a sunken trampoline does not fall within the remit of the F&E scheme and therefore would not be funded by my department.
