Jack Wall
Question:402 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the special arrangements persons (details supplied) in County Kildare can expect for their children sitting exams in view of their learning difficulties. [3276/99]
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.
My Department provides a range of special arrangements for students with specific learning difficulties at the certificate examinations. Applications for special arrangements on the grounds of a specific learning difficulty are made by the authorities of the school concerned and are considered individually on the basis of evidence submitted, including psychological reports. Applications are usually made about a year before the actual examination in question.
After full consideration is given to an application the school is notified of the outcome and a candidate who is not satisfied with the arrangements proposed by the Department has access to a special arrangements appeals committee. The process, which I have outlined above, can of course apply to the students referred to by the Deputy should they apply for special arrangements.
Jack Wall
Question:403 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to provide computers for children suffering from dyslexia in view of the fact that his Department's psychologists are recommending this means of education for sufferers. [3277/99]
A special fund of £250,000 has been allocated under Schools IT 2000 to provide assistance to schools in catering for the ICT needs of individual special needs pupils, including those with specific learning disability such as dyslexia.