Education Schemes
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Louth

We just need to make sure that the circular is fit for purpose and that the young primary school child to whom I refer will be given the supports he requires.
I will just finish reading from the communication to which I referred earlier. It states:
[His] attainments and cognitive profile do not confer eligibility for an application for an Assistive Technology grant. However, he would benefit from availing of a laptop or device in school or indeed at home. [He] should be encouraged to develop his typing skills as this will be of huge support to him when he transitions to secondary school in a few years' time. He should also be encourage to use the 'dictate' function in Word, and this will also be useful for him when completing school projects.
That is the reality of the assistive technology fund. Assistive technology would be of real benefit. We also know that it must be authorised by the Department in order that it can be availed of for exams and all the rest of it. At this point, he would require that to avail of the curriculum, which is what the assistive technology grant scheme is there for. The Minister of State says the scheme is being updated. Could he outline the level of funding that will be in it?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-16