Billy Timmins
Question:111 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science if the special task force on dyslexia has met; its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21236/00]
Written Answers. - Task Force on Dyslexia.
The task force on dyslexia held its first meeting on Thursday, 5 October 2000. The next meeting of the task force has been scheduled for Thursday, 12 October.
The terms of reference of the task force are: to review the current range of educational support services available to children with dyslexia in Ireland; to assess the adequacy of current educational support services, having regard to the range of special needs which can arise and the need to address such needs either in integrated settings or by way of special dedicated provision; to make such recommendations as are considered appropriate for the development or adjustment of existing policy approaches and support services, in order to ensure the delivery of an appropriate, effective and efficient education service to children with dyslexia, and to make such further recommendations as the task force considers appropriate in relation to the above matters.
The task force, which is comprised of experts and practitioners in the field of dyslexia, has been requested to report to me within three months and I am confident that its report will provide a blue-print for the future development of education services for children with dyslexia.