Vol. 444 No. 3
125 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Education in cases where pupils have reading and writing difficulties arising from dyslexia and other such disorders and where it is necessary to put textbooks on tape, if she will make special funds available to parents to ease the financial burden of purchasing such expensive tapes.
Decisions regarding the acquisition of taped textbook material are a matter for the authorities of individual schools, having regard to the needs of the pupils involved.
The practice of acquiring taped material is not uncommon and, in such cases, the costs involved should be met by the school concerned.
Capitation funding provided to schools, which is supplemented by a local contribution, includes an element in respect of the cost of acquiring materials and equipment. I would consider that the cost of acquiring taped textbook material should be met from this source.
