Vol. 496 No. 3
398 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the alterations, if any, made to the arrangements whereby examiners with special competence are used to correct the examination papers of students with dyslexia at junior and leaving certificates levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22337/98]
There is no team of specialised examiners as such who correct the work of candidates with specific learning difficulties. For any one subject a common marking scheme is applied to the work of all candidates taking the subject regardless of whether the candidate has a specific learning difficulty or physical impairment which might cause difficulties with the presentation and ultimate readability of material presented for examination. The key issue which arises in relation to marking work presented by candidates with specific learning difficulties is to ensure that, notwithstanding any presentational or readability difficulties, every effort is made by the examiner to give the candidate full credit for all work done. To that end in the event of the initial examiner encountering difficulty in reading the script, the examiner is instructed to send the answer-book to his or her supervising examiner.
