To ask the Minister for the Economy for her Department’s assessment of the accessibility of further educational colleges for those with (i) special educational needs; and (ii) physical disabilities, to ensure these students have the same opportunities as their peers.

My Department recognises the importance of equality and social inclusion within Further Education and there are currently a number of measures in place which aim to remove barriers for students with special educational needs gaining access to, participating in and achieving their goals with Further Education.

Ring-fenced funding of £4.5 million, per annum, is provided by my Department through the Additional Support Fund to Further Education colleges to help provide the necessary additional technical and/or personal support required to allow students with learning difficulties or disabilities to participate in mainstream Further Education courses, or in discrete programmes.

The fund allows colleges to provide students with technical and personal support to enable them to gain maximum benefit from their courses by removing barriers to study. Examples of technical support include specialised enabling equipment, such as braillers, specialist software and hearing loops. Personal support includes specialist tutors/advisers, such as hearing or visual impairment tutors, interpreters, classroom assistants and note-takers. The level of support provided depends on both the nature of the disability and the course of study.