Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen to discuss petition seeking ‘Reasonable Accommodation for Dyslexic Students in State Examinations’

The meeting at 1.30pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Representatives from the State Examinations Commission (SEC), Ms Andrea Feeney, Chief Executive Officer, and Mr Richard Dolan, Director of Operations;
• Officials from the Department of Education, Ms Celeste O'Callaghan, Principal Officer, Curriculum and Assessment Policy.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Martin Browne said: “This petition from the Dyslexia Association of Ireland seeks extra time to be allowed for students taking the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams. Dyslexic students face significant challenges with extended reading and writing and often run out of time in formal exams, which leaves them unable to demonstrate their full understanding of the topics being assessed. 

“In line with best international practice, extra time in exams would help to overcome this disadvantage and address needs not currently covered by existing available accommodations, including the spelling and grammar waiver. The Committee looks forward to discussing this petition and practical options to assist dyslexic students with representatives of the State Exams Commission and Department of Education officials.”

The Committee will also consider the following petitions:

• Public Petition Number P00021/24 ‘4 day week’;
• Public Petition Number P00028/24 ‘Credit Unions’;
• Public Petition Number P00029/24 ‘Ireland, Open up an emergency admission program for Sudanese people fleeing war’;
• Public Petition Number P00030/24 ‘Request for Oireachtas Investigation into IHREC Funding Allocation’.

The Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen is a standing Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas and has 11 Members, seven from the Dáil and four from the Seanad.

The meeting in the Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.