Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
568. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in primary and post-primary schools who are receiving support through the assistive technology grant, by school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14970/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra569. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students attending gaelscoileanna who have been refused an assistive technology grant in 2025 to date, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14971/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra570. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of appeals made under Circular 0010/2013 regarding the assistive technology grant in 2025 to date; the number upheld, part-upheld and refused; if she will provide the breakdown of applications, decisions and appeals, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14972/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra571. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department uses a previous refusal of an assistive technology grant at primary level when considering a new application at post-primary level for the same child; if so, the basis for this approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14973/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 568 to 571, inclusive, together.
Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
The Assistive Technology Scheme is provided by my department to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children for education purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children who require essential specialist equipment in order to access the school curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
To qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology Scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential to allow the student to access the curriculum.
Schools make applications directly to their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO), providing details of the student’s special educational needs or disability, including details of the approach taken by the school in making relevant interventions.
SENOs will review the application and supporting professional reports to establish whether the criteria of the scheme have been met. They will then make a recommendation to my department as to whether the assistive technology is required or not. Based on this recommendation, my department will decide on the level of grant, if any, to be provided.
Where assistive technology is not recommended, this decision is communicated to the school. It is open to the school to appeal this decision. The appeals process is outlined on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/237c68-assistive-technology-grant/. Any such appeal will be dealt with as a priority by my department.
Separately, where an appeal has been unsuccessful, but new information becomes available, it is open to the school to submit a new application to the SENO for consideration. Where a new application for an Assistive Technology Grant is submitted, I can confirm that officials in my department do not take any previous refusal into account. Instead, each new application is accessed solely on the supporting evidence and documentation provided by the school as part of that application.
The following sets out the number of appeal applications received under the Assistive Technology Scheme from 2025 to date:
|
County |
No. of Appeals |
Upheld |
Refused |
In Process* |
|
Carlow |
4 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Cavan |
4 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
Cork |
32 |
4 |
4 |
23 |
|
Clare |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Dublin |
19 |
4 |
12 |
4 |
|
Galway |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
11 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
|
Laois |
5 |
|
1 |
4 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Louth |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
|
1 |
4 |
|
Meath |
16 |
|
9 |
7 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
Tipperary |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Westmeath |
3 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
|
|
1 |
Position as at 20th February 2026
*Appeal applications considered to be In Process include those that are:
• Awaiting further information.
• An application for Assistive Technology was not received at the outset.
• Appeal application is newly received.
In response to the deputy’s query as to the number of students attending gaelscoileanna who have been refused an assistive technology grant in 2025 to date, our records indicate that there was 18 students in total as follows:
|
County |
Refusals |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Dublin |
8 |
|
Galway |
4 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
The following sets out the number of primary and post primary claims made following the purchase of Assistive Technology by schools for the fiscal years 2021 to 2025:
|
Year |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
|
Primary Schools |
3,672 |
3,758 |
3,566 |
3,119 |
2,775 |
|
Post Primary Schools |
1,626 |
1,566 |
1,353 |
1,085 |
991 |
|
Total |
5,298 |
5,324 |
4,919 |
4,204 |
3,766 |
My department remains committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
