AQW 10682/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 23/04/2024
Answered On Date: 13/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any support it provides to adults with suspected but undiagnosed special educational needs, particularly with issues such as reading and writing and when preparing for or seeking employment.

Answer:

My Department offers a wide range of support to customers based on personal assessments and tailored to individual needs, operating in conjunction with other supports delivered by Central and Local Government, and the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The Department offers Access to Work NI, Workable NI, and the Condition Management Programme which are flexible provisions that support management of their conditions, movement towards, and sustainment of employment. Additionally, the JobStart Scheme offers paid placements for young adults, alongside a training and upskilling bursary.

In respect to reading and writing provision for adults, while this is primarily the remit of the Department for the Economy, Work Coaches across my Department’s Jobs and Benefits office network refer and connect claimants to local provision. They also offer schemes such as the Advisor Discretionary Fund which can provide non-repayable grants to remove any financial barriers to participation within this provision.