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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 6

Written Answers. - Remedial Education Services.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

210 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent of his Department's responsibility for screening children to determine if they suffer from dyslexia; the arrangements currently in place for the carrying out of such screening; and the Government's views on the age at which such screening should be undertaken. [14196/00]

The early detection of reading difficulties is a function of class and remedial teachers. My Department has allocated 1465 remedial teachers at primary level and 560 whole-time equivalents at second-level to support pupils with reading difficulties. Among their duties is the assessment of such difficulties, using a variety of tests, standardised and diagnostic, for this purpose.

Where a pupil functions at a level that is two standard deviations below the mean on a standardised test of literacy, the pupil may be referred for psychological assessment to determine if dyslexia may be an explanatory factor. Where a pupil meets the criteria of the Department of Education and Science for dyslexia, he/she may receive additional support in a special school or special class or from a resource teacher.

It is possible, with reasonable confidence, to engage in screening for dyslexia from the time pupils are in first class at the about the age of seven years.

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