Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 3

Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.

John Bruton

Question:

242 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide special financial assistance towards the educational costs of parents of dyslexic children who, due to lack of adequate education for dyslexic children in some areas in the secondary school system, have to make private provision for education for their dyslexic child. [14208/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The task force which I established in October 2000 to examine provision for children with dyslexia has now completed its deliberations and I look forward to receiving a report from it in the very near future.

In December 2000, I announced a highly innovative nationwide pilot scheme to assist second level students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. A total of 31 schools around the country are participating in the pilot project which is costing £2 million. Each student with dyslexia is being provided with a laptop computer for school and home use. A grant of £2,700 per student is being paid for the purchase of laptops and software for those second year students identified as eligible for the project. Each school has received £3,000 in grant aid to purchase back-up equipment for the project teachers. Dedicated teacher training is also being provided and the national centre for technology in education, NCTE, is co-ordinating the project. The project will explore innovative ways of using information and communications technology, ICT, to assist students' learning. Assistive technology can help students to work more independently within mainstream classes or in small groups and allow for flexibility in time and place of learning.

In addition to this targeted pilot project, my Department also operates a scheme for the provision of grants for second level schools towards the purchase of equipment for the use of pupils with certain disabilities or communication difficulties, including severe dyslexia. The purpose of the scheme is to provide these pupils with equipment of direct educational benefit to them, including computer equipment and software. It is open to all second level schools to submit an application under that scheme.

The Government has provided annual funding of £50,000 to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland, formerly know as ACLD, since 1999. This funding has helped the association to operate an information service for members and the public. In addition, this funding has assisted in meeting the costs associated with the attendance of some chil dren from disadvantaged backgrounds at workshops and programmes organised by the association.

As regards additional teaching resources, remedial teaching posts are allocated to each second level school to help meet the needs of pupils who require learning support. Additional teaching hours are also allocated in respect of pupils with assessed special educational needs on the recommendation of the psychological service.