Vol. 489 No. 1
53 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the discrimination between children with average ability with learning difficulties and children with a below average IQ in the granting of special category status for State examinations. [7547/98]
I should explain to the Deputy that special arrangements are made for candidates who would have a difficulty in communicating what they know to an examiner because of a physical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or of a specific learning difficulty, for example, dyslexia. The special arrangements are intended to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate s performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate his or her level of attainment as distinct from attempting to compensate in any way for a lack of ability or knowledge on the part of the candidate.
