Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 3

Written Answers. - Candidates with Disabilities.

Enda Kenny

Question:

164 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Education the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who is a Leaving Certificate student assessed independently as being dyslexic is not being given assistance by an invigilator in reading at his examination if required; and the reason no special consideration will be given to him when correction of his paper takes place in view of his IQ reading and of the level of word recognition and spelling available to him; if her attention has been drawn to the distress that her Department's decision to refuse such assistance to this person has caused in view of his exceptional efforts over the years to bring himself to this point; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that her Department's decision has placed even further stress upon him and impairs his ability to undertake the Leaving Certificate; if she will reverse the decision in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

My Department has operated a scheme of special consideration for many years in the case of candidates who have disabilities. This scheme is intended for candidates who have learned the knowledge to be examined but who would be impaired in communicating it to an examiner because of a physical or psychological disability. Special consideration does not mean more lenient marking. My Department's aim is to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and enable the candidate to demonstrate his or her level of attainment. A range of facilities is available and these are tailored, as far as possible, to the needs of the individual candidates.

The position in regard to a specific learning difficulty is that all applications for special consideration based on the existence of this condition are referred to the psychological service of my Department. Special consideration is approved where my Department's psychologists are satisfied that the condition is of such a degree that the candidate would be impaired in reading the questions or in writing the answers. It is also approved where the examiner would have difficulty in deciphering the candidate's handwriting.

A wide range of facilities is available in the case of a pupil who is impaired. A candidate who is unable to read, or is effectively unable to read, may be allowed the service of a person who will read the questions. A candidate who is unable to write, or is effectively unable to write, may be allowed the service of a scribe or the use of a mechanical aid such as a tape recorder, a typewriter or a word processor. Extra time may be allowed where the candidate is unable to make adequate use of the services or aids allowed.

The facility which is afforded the majority of candidates who are impaired by specific learning difficulties is, however, simply to ensure that their answer books are marked by examiners who are experienced in marking the work of such candidates and in deciphering their handwriting. These examiners will ensure that full credit is given for all work done.

In the particular instance adverted to, an application for special consideration on the grounds of a specific learning difficulty was made to my Department on 24 November 1993 by the candidate's school. Samples of the candidate's written work accompanied the application. The application was referred to my Department's psychological service for consideration. Having evaluated all the available evidence and having taken into account that the candidate may have some specific learning difficulties, my Department's psychological service concluded that a regular examiner would be capable of reading his work. Therefore, in the circumstances, special consideration is not warranted.

Special consideration often consists of simply passing a candidate's scripts to an examiner who is used to deciphering poor handwriting. As there was no need even for this, in the opinion of my Department's psychologists, the school was informed on 27 April that my Department was not prepared to grant special consideration in respect of this candidate.

The existence of a specific learning difficulty does not automatically qualify a candidate for special consideration in examinations. Even though candidates may have a specific difficulty with reading, writing or spelling they may not require the provision of any special facilities provided that they can read the question papers of the required level and write legibly and intelligibly. Each individual case is considered on its merits.