Minister Foley announces over €1 million in funding for digital and assistive technology projects

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has today announced funding of over €1 million for nine digital and assistive technology projects supporting people with sensory, cognitive, physical, and intellectual disabilities.

The funding, delivered through the third iteration of the HSE Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive Technology Enhancement (CREATE III) initiative, targets unmet needs and supports people with disabilities to participate fully in work, education, leisure, and community life.

The nine projects receiving funding are:

• Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) FreedomTech, in partnership with Enable Ireland - “Empowering Inclusion: Strengthening Ireland's Assistive Technology Ecosystem through CHAT (Community Hub for Assistive Technology)” (€125,000)
• Inclusion Ireland, in partnership with Brothers of Charity Services Ireland and St. Michael’s House - “Advancing Accessible Information: National Standards and Resources for People with Intellectual Disabilities” (€125,000)
• St John of God Community Services – “DigiCoach Project” (€125,000)
• The Rehab Group - “DAT Works: Tech for Talent” (€125,000)
• St John of God Community Services – Dublin Southeast - “Positive Ageing, Living Stronger” (€125,000)
• St. Michael’s House, in partnership with the HSE National Disability Quality Improvement Team (DISQI) - “Digital Supports for Persons with Disabilities” (€125,000)
• National Rehabilitation Hospital - “Development of a National Framework for Microprocessor Knees (MPKs) Provision” (€75,000)
• HSE Community Healthcare West Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) - “Establishing an Early Assistive Technology to Support Development Clinic for Infants and Young Children with Complex Needs in Mayo” (€75,000)
• The Anne Sullivan Centre - “Expansion of the National Assistive Technology Library for People who are Deafblind” (€75,000)

Minister Foley said:

Minister Higgins said:

Professor Rosemary Gowran, Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for People with Disability, said:

Ends//

Editor’s Notes

Funded projects and summaries

1. Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) FreedomTech, in partnership with Enable Ireland - “Empowering Inclusion: Strengthening Ireland's Assistive Technology Ecosystem through CHAT (Community Hub for Assistive Technology)”
   Award: €125,000
   Summary: This project aims to expand and establish CHAT (Community Hub for Assistive Technology) as Ireland’s national community of practice for assistive technology. It will foster collaboration among people with disabilities, service providers, policymakers, and industry leaders to improve access to assistive technology in education, employment, and community life through hybrid events, resource development, leadership training, and enhanced accessibility.
2. Inclusion Ireland, in partnership with Brothers of Charity Services Ireland and St. Michael’s House – “Advancing Accessible Information: National Standards and Resources for People with Intellectual Disabilities”
   Award: €125,000
   Summary: This two-year project aims to address the lack of national standards and training for creating accessible information for people with intellectual disabilities. It will develop national standards, co-created training programmes, and a centralised online resource hub. These efforts will empower individuals with intellectual disabilities to make informed decisions, advocate for their rights, and participate fully in society, while also supporting organisations across sectors to create high-quality, inclusive communication materials. ​The project aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA), ensuring sustainable, rights-based practices and long-term systems improvement.
3. St John of God Community Services – “DigiCoach Project”
   Award: €125,000
   Summary: The DigiCoach project aims to establish a sustainable, peer-led digital and assistive technology (DAT) support system across disability services in Ireland. ​ It focuses on recruiting and training 20 DigiCoaches—individuals with lived experience of disability—to provide personalised coaching in using DAT for communication, daily living, mobility, and health engagement. ​The project will also develop a DigiCoach Resource Hub for accessible tutorials and resources, host workshops to promote knowledge sharing, and create a national Community of Practice to ensure long-term sustainability. By addressing barriers such as affordability, awareness, and lack of coaching, the project seeks to empower individuals, enhance independence, and promote inclusion for people with disabilities. ​
4. The Rehab Group – “DAT Works: Tech for Talent”
   Award: €125,000
   Summary: DAT Works supports disabled and autistic jobseekers to transition into employment. It aims to address Ireland’s disability employment gap by enabling jobseekers to trial and use assistive technology during work placements and employment transitions.​ It also focuses on building employer capacity and confidence in supporting inclusive practices through workplace accessibility audits, training, and a universally designed digital hub. Led by a Registered Occupational Therapist, DAT Works employs disabled and autistic individuals as trainers and contributors, ensuring authentic representation and co-production. ​The project seeks to create a scalable, sustainable model for inclusive employment supports, leveraging partnerships with employers, assistive technology suppliers, and other organisations to strengthen local systems and improve employment outcomes for disabled people across Ireland. ​
5. St John of God Community Services – Dublin Southeast – “Positive Ageing, Living Stronger”
   Award: €125,000
   Summary: This project will implement an assistive technology-enabled frailty prevention programme for adults with intellectual disabilities aged 40+, embedding occupational therapy and physiotherapy interventions into daily routines using accessible technology solutions. It will involve a pilot group of 10 participants, with findings used to develop a scalable framework for wider implementation across SJOG DSE services. ​The project aligns with HSE priorities for ageing, prevention, and digital transformation, aiming to deliver measurable health, social, and economic benefits while addressing the unmet needs of older adults with intellectual disabilities. ​
6. St. Michael’s House, in partnership with the HSE National Disability Quality Improvement Team (DISQI) – “Digital Supports for Persons with Disabilities”
   Award: €125,000
   Summary: St. Michael’s House digital inclusion for persons with disabilities initiative will provide digital skills training, online safety workshops, and accessible feedback systems, empowering 1,300 individuals by 2027. It includes paid roles for persons with disabilities as peer coaches and consultants, promoting independence and participation in daily life. ​The project aligns with national and global strategies for digital inclusion and sustainability. ​
7. National Rehabilitation Hospital – “Development of a National Framework for Microprocessor Knees (MPKs) Provision”
   Award: €75,000
   Summary: The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) proposes the development of a standardised framework for equitable access to Microprocessor Knees (MPKs) in Ireland. ​MPKs are advanced prosthetic devices that improve mobility, reduce falls, and enhance the quality of life for individuals with transfemoral limb absence. ​ This project aims to create a national framework for MPK provision, including assessment, prescription, fitting guidelines, and outcome tracking. ​ It will also establish regional capacity, develop training programs for clinicians and service users, and create a national database for MPK users.​ The initiative seeks to reduce geographic disparities, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and ensure sustainable access to assistive technologies for individuals with limb absence. ​
8. HSE Community Healthcare West Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) – “Establishing an Early Assistive Technology to Support Development Clinic for Infants and Young Children with Complex Needs in Mayo”
   Award: €75,000
   Summary: This project aims to establish an Early Assistive Technology (AT) Clinic across the three Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) in Mayo. ​It will provide infants and young children (8–48 months) with complex physical and developmental needs access to assistive technologies, such as early powered mobility devices, adapted mobility supports, and switch-access toys. ​The clinic will offer structured sessions for equipment trials, a loan library for home use, and educational resources for families and staff. Led by a Specialist Occupational Therapist, the project will enhance developmental milestones, participation, and independence for children, empower families, and build staff capacity. ​It will also create a sustainable, scalable model for equitable AT provision, with outcomes shared regionally and nationally to inform best practices. ​
9. The Anne Sullivan Centre – “Expansion of the National Assistive Technology Library for People who are Deafblind”
   Award: €75,000
   Summary: This project aims to scale and embed a national Assistive Technology (AT) Library and Digital Resource Hub to support people who are deafblind in Ireland. ​The project focuses on expanding the device catalogue, enhancing the loan/return model, providing structured training, and developing digital resources to reduce AT abandonment and improve accessibility. ​ By collaborating with HSE sensory services, AT suppliers, and peer organisations, ASC seeks to empower individuals with deafblindness to achieve greater independence, confidence, and social inclusion. ​The project also aims to create a sustainable, replicable model of AT access and training, ensuring long-term impact and advocacy for dedicated funding pathways. ​

About the CREATE III funding process

• Nine projects have been awarded funding following a comprehensive evaluation process.
• The National Clinical Programme for People with Disability (NCPPD) established an Evaluation Panel and Working Group to oversee the process and ensure consistency, transparency, and governance oversight.
• The Evaluation Panel included representatives from the HSE NCPPD, Access and Integration, Disability Services, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and the National Disability Authority (NDA).

Assessment criteria

The nine projects were selected following the development of detailed proposals aligned with the objectives of the HSE National Clinical Programme for People with Disability (NCPPD), including:

• Designing, demonstrating, and implementing good assistive technology service delivery practices, including in the areas of personal mobility, vision, hearing, communication, and accessibility, with a focus on sustainability.
• Creating accessible digital education, training, and resource hubs, grounded in universal design, to address health and social care needs for both service users and providers.