The educational needs of pupils with specific learning disability, including those with dyslexia, are generally capable of being met within the ordinary school system, with the support, where appropriate, of the remedial teacher service.
Fully qualified primary school teachers are trained to deal with a variety of reading problems, including those which are accompanied by perceptual difficulties. The special training programme for remedial teachers includes a module on specific learning disability. At present, there are 1,302 remedial teacher posts in the primary system and 350 at second-level. There are 39 remedial teachers at primary level and seven at post-primary level in County Meath. I recently announced my decision to extend the remedial teacher service to all first and second-level schools with effect from September 1999.
Where more serious cases of difficulty arise, provision is made in one of four special schools and seven special classes dedicated to such children. These special facilities operate at a reduced pupil teacher ratio of 11:1.
In 1998 my Department allocated a sum of £38,111 to the Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (ACLD) to assist their administration service and to facilitate access to workshops and summer schools for children from disadvantaged areas. In the current year an allocation of £50,000 is being made available to the ACLD.
I recently announced a major development in special education services under which all children, including those with dyslexia, are now entitled to an automatic response to their needs.
