Special Educational Needs
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-27
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Linda Nelson Murray (FG), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I thank the Minister of State for his response and for outlining the fact that 3,600 assistive technology supports have come out this year. I am a little disappointed that we do not have the date for it. I appreciate that the Department is at the final stages of the report. I really was hoping to get a date this morning but I hope and I think the Minister of State probably can guarantee me that we will have it for the start of the school year in September. Maybe we can get it out in July or August in order that schools can get the funding and can know the children who are coming in in September. The schools know every child inside out and will know which children need it.
We should bear in mind that man whose child had an IQ of 89 and not 90. That one point will make a difference to her. The child is ten years of age. She is in fourth class and has only two years left at school. Emotionally, it is hard for the family. They would really appreciate knowing that their daughter, going into fifth class, will have access to a laptop. Right now they do not. We are going through the appeals process on it at the moment. I hope we will be successful on it but for her and for other children, time is of the essence here. I think the Minister of State recognises that, judging by his response, and I appreciate that.

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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