Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - Dyslexia Screening.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

92 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent of his responsibility for screening children to determine if they suffer from dyslexia; the arrangements currently in place for carrying out such screening; and the age at which the Government believes such screening should be undertaken. [14198/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The early detection of reading difficulties is a function of both class and remedial teachers. My Department has allocated 1,465 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, both standardised and diagnostic.

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.