Vol. 513 No. 6
101 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to provide facilities or other measures in the context of examinations to cater for children with learning difficulties, including children over six years of age. [3306/00]
The report and recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Certificate Examinations in relation to the arrangements for the assessment of candidates with special needs in certificate examinations has just been published.
The advisory group identified a set of principles as a basis for dealing with this complex and difficult area. My Department has begun the process of implementing the recommendations and applying the principles to applications on hand for this year's examinations and determining the arrangements and facilities that are appropriate in each case.
The full text of the report and a circular setting out revised arrangements that will come into effect immediately have been circulated to schools and other interested parties. I am arranging to have the Deputy provided with copies of these documents.
102 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who have been identified as being dyslexic who are still attending school; and the projection, if any, on the true figure incorporating those who have not been identified as suffering from this reading difficulty. [3326/00]
Details of the number of children who have been identified as being dyslexic and who are still attending school are not available in my Department at present.
My Department is currently planning to extend the range of data gathered on special needs pupils, as part of the development of a comprehensive database on individual pupils. The objective is to develop a national database which will provide critical information on all pupils, including those with special needs, to support the development of policy.
A total of £4.5 million is being provided to develop this database over the next three years. This includes £500,000 which is being provided in the current year. The IT unit of my Department is currently preparing a development plan for the database project and it is intended to implement the first phase in a pilot group of schools during the coming school year. It is anticipated that the project will use the latest internet-based technologies to facilitate the convenient transfer of data to my Department from schools.
Arising from a Government decision of October 1998, all children with special needs within the primary system, including children with dyslexia, now have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs. Since this decision was taken, an additional 225 resource teachers have been allocated to the primary system to support children with special needs, including those with dyslexia. There are now a total of 329 resource teachers in the primary system.
All primary schools have been advised of this development and have been informed of the information they are required to submit to my Department in support of any application for special education services. The information in question includes particulars of the special needs children in respect of whom support is being sought. Applications for support under this arrangement is already providing significant data on the levels of special need within the system.
