asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that there is still extreme dissatisfaction among parents of dyslexic children regarding changed departmental rules for the marking of examination papers; and if he will, even at this late stage, consider a review and reversal of the decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dyslexic Children.
2.
No change has been made or proposed in the arrangements under which allowance is made for the specific difficulties of dyslexic candidates in the marking of their answering at the certificate examinations. It has been decided, however, to indicate on the certificates of those candidates that such allowance has been made, and in this regard I refer the Deputy to the record of Question Time on 2 July 1986.
The Dyslexia Association of Ireland has asked to meet me to discuss this matter and I will be making arrangements to meet them shortly.
They asked for a meeting with the Minister in late spring and met with departmental officials. Is the Minister aware that that meeting was inconclusive and was unsatisfactory from the parents point of view and that they now wish to meet with the Minister or Minister of State? Is the Minister aware that such a meeting was sought and is required urgently because of the imminent marking of such examination certificates?
The Minister is aware that the parents have claimed that they were misrepresented as regards the form of the endorsement and he is prepared to meet them. A date will be fixed at an early time and it will take place prior to any endorsement being issued.
Will the meeting take place prior to any decision to finally endorse?
Yes.
Will the Minister seriously reconsider having the present situation totally re-examined with a view to going back to the situation which pertained prior to the rules which now exist?
There has been quite a lot of discussion in this House on that point. The reason for the endorsement relates to the preservation of the integrity of the certificates. Unless the Deputy can ennumerate special circumstances which might change the trend of those discussions, a change is unlikely. The Minister will meet with the parents to discuss the form of the endorsement.