Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

1156 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports currently available for students with dyslexia attending second level schools; if these are provided in all schools; if he has in place a pilot project on dyslexia; if so, the number of schools included and the names of schools in the County Dublin VEC concerned; and if he will make a statement regarding policy and proposals to support such students. [1143/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Remedial teaching posts are allocated to each second level school to meet the needs of pupils who require learning support. Additional teaching hours are also allocated in respect of pupils with assessed special educational needs. Each such case is considered on its merits and additional teaching hours are allocated on the recommendation of the psychological service.

My Department operates a scheme for the provision of grants for second level schools towards the purchase of equipment, including computer equipment and software, for the use of pupils with certain disabilities or communication difficulties. The purpose of the scheme is to provide such pupils with equipment of direct educational benefit to them. It is open to all second level schools with such a pupil or pupils enrolled to make an application under the scheme.

I recently initiated a pilot scheme to assist second level students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. A total of 31 schools around the country are participating in this pilot project costing £2 million. Each student with dyslexia or other reading difficulties will be provided with a laptop computer for school and home use. A grant of £2,700 per student will be paid for the purchase of laptops and specially designed software for second year students identified as eligible for the project. Dedicated teacher training will also be provided and the National Centre for Technology in Education – NCTE – will co-ordinate the project. There are three County Dublin Vocational Education Committee schools involved in this project. They are: Greenhills college, Limekiln Avenue, Dublin 12; Riversdale community college, Blanchardstown Road North, Dublin 15; and St. Kevin's community college, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

I have established a special task force to review current approaches to the educational needs of children with dyslexia and to make recommendations on how support services for such children should be developed for the future. The task force, which comprises experts in the field of dyslexia, commenced its work in October 2000 and I expect to receive its report shortly. I am confident that the report of the task force will provide a valuable basis for the further development of education services for children with dyslexia.