Peter Barry
Question:246 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Education whether she proposes to provide for full-time remedial education for children, assessed as needed because of dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Remedial Services for Dyslexic Children.
As I indicated to the House on 23 February 1993, the educational needs of children with specific learning disability, sometimes referred to as dyslexia, are generally met within the ordinary school system, employing a variety of approaches to suit individual needs, with the help, where appropriate, of remedial teachers.
There are 945 remedial teacher posts assigned to national schools and 71 per cent of pupils in the country attending such schools have the services of a remedial teacher.
The Programme for a Partnership Government made a specific commitment to the appointment of 500 additional remedial teachers by September, 1996.
As a first step towards honouring this commitment, I have decided to appoint an additional 80 remedial teachers with effect from September, 1993.
These posts will be allocated to individual and groups of schools on the basis of priority of need, as indicated by data collected from schools.