Vol. 421 No. 6
7 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education if special emphasis is to be placed in primary and post-primary teacher training courses to deal with pupils who have specific reading disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
30 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education if special emphasis is to be placed in primary and post-primary teacher training courses to deal with pupils who have specific reading disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
68 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Education if special emphasis is to be placed in primary and post-primary teacher training courses to deal with pupils who have specific reading disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
69 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Education if special emphasis is to be placed in primary and post-primary teacher training courses to deal with pupils who have specific reading disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
77 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Education if special emphasis is to be placed in primary and post-primary teacher training courses to deal with pupils who have specific reading disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
82 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Education if special emphasis is to be placed in primary and post-primary teacher training courses to deal with pupils who have specific reading disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 30, 68, 69, 77, and 82 together.
The existing primary teacher training course cover aspects relating to reading disabilities and their remediation. As part of the course leading to the Higher Diploma in Education, the teaching of children with reading disorder is dealt with either specifically or in the courses on the sociology or psychology of children. In the case of UCD a postgraduate diploma in compensatory and remedial teaching is also offered and a similar postgraduate course is provided by St. Patrick's College of Education.
In-service training courses are provided by my Department on a regular basis dealing with the needs of pupils with learning disabilities. In-service courses for remedial teachers cover a range of learning difficulties which teachers may experience in their work, including specific reading disabilities or disorders.
In the Green Paper on Education, which I will publish later today, I will be emphasising the need for the early identification of pupils with learning problems, so that remedial action can be taken at the earliest possible stage of their education.
Is the Minister aware that about 10 per cent of students have reading disabilities and that there are two particular disabilities, dyslexia and scotopic sensitivity syndrome, SSS, which means that a student looking at an ordinary page of writing sees it as virtually unintelligible? In relation to scotopic sensitivity syndrome is the Minister aware that the only recognised treatment is by way of special lenses but that the franchise for those lenses is held entirely by two people in this country, one in Cork and one in Dublin? They have nine regional diagnosticians and the initial diagnosis costs £35. One has then to go for a further examination which costs £70 and the lenses cost a further £200, a total of over £300. I would ask the Minister to have this matter investigated as a matter of urgency to see what can be done, particularly for persons in lower income families and who have reading disabilities. The service then required is not within their financial remit or capacity.
I will certainly undertake to examine the matter because I would be concerned if the problem was widespread. Of the 3,200 schools or so, about 1,400 — approximately 40 per cent — have either full time or shared remedial teachers but I would like to see the number increased as soon as possible. Many areas do not have a requirement for remedial teachers. I am aware of the problem with dyslexia and SSS. I have personal experience in my own family of one of those conditions so I am well aware of the need for the glasses and so on which the Deputy described. I will respond to his suggestion to examine the cost element. I was not aware that the franchise is held by only two people in the country. I will have the matter examined with a view to the service being made more widely available.
I would have thought the Minister would have been aware that his Department do not grant aid people, even very poor people, to obtain these lenses. I am glad to know he will look into the matter. I also want to refer to the matter of hearing on which I had a reply from the Minister yesterday. The case concerns a child who is deaf and who had been provided with a radio aid by the health board in 1986. In his reply the Minister said that was sufficient. It is not sufficient. The child is going into secondary school now and needs a new radio aid for his hearing aid which will cost £1,000. He is from a working class family who do not have a medical card so they will not get assistance. I would appreciate if the Minister would examine that case also. Is he prepared to undertake too, to examine question of help for those with reading disabilities?
I will undertake to do that and will come back to the Deputy on it.
