Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 1

Written Answers. - Organisation of Special Class of ACLD.

Austin Currie

Question:

125 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education if her Department will give financial help to the family of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 to enable him attend a special class, commencing in January 1994, being organised by the ACLD; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I take it that the person in question is suffering from a specific learning disability, in view of the Deputy's reference to a special class being organised by the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities.

I am satisfied that the educational needs of children with specific learning disability, sometimes referred to as dyslexia, are generally capable of being met within the ordinary school system, with the assistance, where appropriate, of a remedial teacher.

Fully qualified primary school teachers are trained to deal with a variety of reading problems, including those which are accompanied by perceptional difficulties. In addition the special training programme for remedial teachers includes a module on specific learning disability.

Where more serious cases of difficulty arise, provision is made in one of the special schools dedicated to this area. Two of these schools are located in Dublin and one in Cork.

While fully recognising the important support provided by parents and voluntary groups, such as the group mentioned by the Deputy, in this area, my intention for the present is to concentrate available resources on the development of school-based strategies to address the needs of the children in question.

Funds are not available to my Department towards the expenses of parents or voluntary groups who may be providing assistance additional to that provided by the school system.

However, if the Deputy wishes to provide further details of the case he mentions, I will arrange to have the question of a suitable eduational placement for the child examined by my Department.