Special Educational Needs
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-27
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Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

I thank the Senator for raising the issue and for her engagement in special education. It is hugely important that public representatives at all levels are engaged with the education system. It is only by the information they are getting from families and parents that we can challenge the system on it. We are committed to specialised education, which is hugely important in getting children to reach their full potential. For me, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the entire Government, it is to make sure we can deliver.
The assistive technology scheme supplements the overall funding provided to schools for digital technology and equipment and supports children who require essential specialised equipment to access the school curriculum. Assistive technology is a critical enabler for students with special educational needs, allowing them to benefit fully from the modern, technological-focused education system. The Department recognises the significant benefit of assistive technology in school settings, particularly for students with complex needs, and including children with visual and hearing impairments. It supports access to the curriculum, participation in classroom learning and positive educational outcomes. Under the assistive technology scheme, as it stands under the circular the Senator cited, Circular 10/13, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialised equipment required for education purposes. The student must have a diagnosis of a physical or communicative disability and a professional assessment confirming the equipment is essential. Between January and the end of April 2026, almost 3,700 applications for assistive technology had been received and these are progressing as a matter of priority.
In recognition of the need to improve the applications and the delivery, a review of the assistive technology scheme is now in its final stages. That goes to the point the Senator made. The review will culminate in the publication of a new circular, which is expected to be announced in the next number of months. That is the key point and based on the Senator's engagement with the family she mentioned and her understanding of the education system as a whole, it is important that we come to that without delay. I will take from the Senator's Commencement matter that we will work on that to make sure we can bring out the circular as soon as possible.
The Senator outlined her contact with the family and referred to dates, circulars and much else. We have to be child- and family-focused. The whole of government and every Department need to have a robust system in place to ensure we are reaching those who are most in need.
The review is ongoing. It a matter that has been raised continuously by me and others within the Department to make sure that new circular is in place. As part of that review, a new streamlined application process is also being developed because, as the Senator will know, a lot of families who are looking for specialised education for their children or their students are always exasperated by the amount of form-filling and box-ticking that has to be done in relation to it. These changes are to make sure that there is a responsive, effective and child-centred scheme.
Ultimately, as regards the Senator's contribution, the review and those documents were to be over the first quarter, but we will endeavour to make sure that is done in as timely a manner as possible in order that we can support children going into the 2026-27 school year.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-27