Vol. 485 No. 4
186 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 11 December 1997 if special examination arrangements will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if these arrangements will include a reader and extra examination time. [23534/97]
My Department received an application for special arrangements at the 1998 junior certificate examination for the person concerned. The application was made by the authorities of the school which he is attending. A reader was not requested by the school. My Department wrote to the school on 7 May 1997 and again on 6 November 1997 in relation to the application and explained the position regarding additional time.
A new request has recently been received directly from this candidate's parents without recourse to the school. A reader has now been requested. The Department's psychological service will consider the revised request. As soon as this consideration is complete my Department will notify the school and the parents of the outcome.
In the event that the school or parents are not satisfied with the position at that stage they will of course have a right of appeal to the Special Arrangements Appeals Committee.
187 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 11 December 1997 if special examination arrangements will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if these arrangements will include a reader and extra examination time. [23535/97]
My Department received an application for special arrangements on behalf of the person concerned which was made by the authorities of the school which she attends. This application was fully considered and the decision notified to the school. As a result of this decision the school has exercised a right of appeal on behalf of the candidate to the Special Arrangements Appeals Committee. It is anticipated that the committee will consider the appeal at its next meeting in January 1998. The outcome of the appeal will be notified to the school immediately afterwards.
188 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 11 December 1997 if he will outline the number of students who were granted special arrangements in the 1997 leaving and junior certificate examinations on the basis that they suffered from dyslexia. [23537/97]
I can confirm for the Deputy that special arrangements were made for 1,193 candidates on the grounds of a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia in the 1997 junior and leaving certificate examinations.
