Vol. 450 No. 4
72 Mr. T. Foxe asked the Minister for Education the grants and assistance, if any, available to students suffering from dyslexia; and the assistance, if any, available for the putting on tape of books that are on the junior certificate and leaving certificate examinations. [4948/95]
There are no grants paid directly to students suffering from specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. However assistance is provided by way of remedial teacher apointments to schools to deal with specific learning difficulties.
All trained remedial teachers in post-primary schools are capable of identifying pupils with such difficulties, to diagnose their specific problems and to devise appropriate programmes of treatment. They are supported, where needed, by psychologists from the Department's psychological service. A significant number of post-primary schools now has at least one trained remedial teacher on their staff. Provision has been made in the 1995 budget for the appointment of 75 more remedial teachers in post-primary schools to bring the total appointed so far to 277.
Special arrangements can be made for students with specific learning difficulties when sitting the certificate examinations. These include arranging for the examination paper to be read to the student and, where warranted, having the script dealt with by a special examiner.
