Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 May 1993

Vol. 431 No. 3

Written Answers. - Education of Dyslexic Children.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

204 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will give special consideration to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, as she was diagnosed as being dyslexic in November 1992, and hopes to sit the Leaving Certificate examination in June 1993.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Details of my Department's scheme of special consideration were set out in my reply to Deputy Austin Currie on 13 May.

In the particular case referred to by Deputy Shortall, that of Fiona Peel, a student who is repeating the Leaving Certificate Examination this year, the position is that an application for special consideration on the grounds of dyslexia was made to my Department on 11/11/92, by her school. Samples of the candidate's written work and a report from the psychologist attached to the Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities accompanied the application.

The application was referred to my Department's Psychological Service for consideration. The psychological report, dated 9/11/92, and the samples of the written work were carefully considered. Following this consideration my Department's psychologists expressed the opinion that, in all the circumstances, special consideration was not warranted.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

205 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education the assistance which the Department of Education gives to a dyslexic child in primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

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 approches to suit individual needs, with the help, where appropriate, or remedial teachers.

At present there are 945 remedial teacher posts assigned to national schools and 70 per cent of pupils in the country have the services of a remedial teacher.

I am pleased to say that an additional 83 remedial posts are being allocated with effect from September of this year and these appointments will provide a significant extension to this service. These posts form part of a broader commitment under the Programme for a Partnership Government to appoint 500 additional remedial teachers by September, 1996.

The needs of children with a more acute specific learning disability are met by three special schools, two in Dublin and one in Cork.