An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-21
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Linda Nelson Murray (FG), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I met a lady last week who was looking for some help for her daughter, who is ten years of age and has been diagnosed with dyslexia. The psychologist recommended that she get a laptop for school but she was refused by the special educational needs organiser, SENO. When I asked why, I was told that apparently you need an IQ of 90 to get a laptop for school and she had an IQ of 89. I could not believe what I was hearing and this actually is the case. I thought surely we cannot be getting things this wrong.
I had a look into it and it turns out that a new assistive technology circular was due in the first quarter of this year. It has not come out yet but what it will do is give power to the school. In regard to what it will be based on, I will just read this part out: "The Department aims to shift the scheme from a diagnosis-based approach to a needs-based approach" - music to many parents' ears - "granting schools greater autonomy in determining whether a child requires assistive technology to access the curriculum."
I am calling for this to happen now. Let us ease the pressure on parents and on this mam who cannot this laptop for her daughter. I know the school is advocating for her. The circular was due in quarter 1. Can we please find out from the Minister when this new circular is going to come out in order that the schools can help all these children get their laptops to help them learn at school?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-21