Vol. 443 No. 7
236 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will endeavour to ensure that persons (details supplied) in Dublin 6W who are sitting examinations in a school (details supplied) who are remedial students will be given a little extra time in view of the fact that they are part of a special unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
In the case of the pupils referred to by the Deputy, an application was made to my Department by their school for special consideration in examinations on the grounds that each was impaired by a specific learning difficulty. The application also stated that each was a member of a special class for mildly mentally handicapped children.
My Department's scheme of special consideration is intended for candidates who have learnt the knowledge to be examined but who would be impaired in communicating it to an examiner because of a physical or psychological disability. Where an application is based on the existence of a psychological disability, special arrangements are approved provided my Department's psychologists are satisfied that the following conditions are fulfilled: on the basis of the evidence put forward or adduced, the candidate's level of general intellectual ability is not below the average range; the candidate's level of general intellectual ability is not reflected in much of the candidate's schoolwork because of specific difficulties in reading or in writing; the degree of disability is such that the candidate would be impaired in reading the questions or in writing the answers or is such that a regular examiner would have difficulty in deciphering the candidate's handwriting.
I am advised that the learning difficulties of the mentally handicapped are not due to specific difficulties in reading or in writing but are due to their level of general intellectual ability, which is below the average range. In the circumstances, they do not come within the terms of my Department's scheme. This information was conveyed to the school on 1 February 1994.
