Skip the NI Direct Bar

Disability sector support is increasing - Empey

7 April 2008

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today outlined how his Department is increasingly helping students with disabilities realise their potential.

During debate in the Assembly, the Minister said: “The percentage of enrolments in further education (FE) by students declaring a disability is increasing annually. In recent years the Department has allocated an increasing amount of the FE budget to support educational provision for students with disabilities. For example, the Additional Support Fund has been increased from £.5m in 04/05 to £1.5m in 07/08.”

Sir Reg continued: “Since April 2001, the Department has allocated over £18m capital funding to colleges to improve access for people with disabilities. A further £1.5m was allocated in 2007/08 for courses specifically targeted at those with learning difficulties. The complex needs of people with severe learning difficulties often means that mainstream education has not been a suitable option at any stage in their lives. Provision for these young people when they leave school usually requires a co-ordinated approach by various statutory and non-statutory agencies, which can include FE colleges and other training organisations.

“In order to ensure that FE colleges remain relevant to the needs of students with learning difficulties, the Department, in conjunction with the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges and the Education and Training Inspectorate, is undertaking a review of college provision for these students to determine how that provisionmightbe furtherenhanced. The results of the review should be available by the end of June this year.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. In the Academic Year 2006/07, there were 16,856 enrolments in further education colleges of students declaring a disability. This represented 8.2% of total FE college enrolments. In 2004/05 it was 5.9%.
  2.  In 2006/07 there were 1,338 enrolments in further education colleges of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged between 19 and 25 years.
  3. The Additional Support Fund provides assistance with the cost of technical and/or personal support for students with disabilities. This may include the provision of braillers, specialist software and signers.
  4. Since April 2001, the Department has allocated over £18m of capital funding to colleges to improve access for people with disabilities. In 2007/08 almost £1m has been set aside specifically aimed at improving access for people with disabilities.
  5. To further ensure support for students whose learning difficulties prevent them from    accessing mainstream provision in the current academic year, the Department has ring fenced a further £1.5m for targeted courses for this group of students. Some of these will be delivered on college premises and some in out centres, including health service day care facilities.
  6. For media enquiries please contact the Press Office on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.