Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
123 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if home tuition will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Meath; if funding will be made available to allow this person home tuition to continue for the next school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20895/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe home tuition scheme is intended to provide compensatory instruction for students who have a medical ailment that is likely to cause major disruption of their attendance at school. My Department provides home tuition grants to pupils who cannot attend school at all or are absent for a significant proportion of the school year. I understand that the pupil in question had an 85% attendance record at school for the past school year and consequently does not qualify for home tuition. I understand also that this information was conveyed to the pupil's parents in recent days.
124 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to having an educational psychologist appointed to an area (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20897/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development plan drawn up by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, envisages that there should ultimately be seven educational psychologists in County Donegal. It has, however, proved difficult to recruit suitably qualified personnel to serve in the NEPS north-western region.
At present, NEPS is in a position to assign 2.4 whole-time equivalent psychologists to the county. This allows for the provision of a psychological service to approximately 50% of all school pupils in the county but unfortunately this does not yet include the area mentioned by the Deputy. The north-western region has been identified as one of the priority regions for assignment of psychologists to be appointed in the future and every effort will be made to encourage new recruits to work in the region. From within NEPS, a new appointment has recently been made of a NEPS regional director for the north-western region and a senior psychologist has asked to transfer to the region. They are both in the process of moving from Dublin to the north-west.
It is hoped that this will allow for an increase in the level of service being offered to County Donegal during the next school year. At present, schools that do not yet have a service from NEPS may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments. Details of this scheme have been circulated to all schools and are also published on my Department's website.
125 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding he has allocated to the Meath Dyslexia Association, in particular to the Kilcock Dyslexia Association; if these figures are not available, the amount he has allocated to Dyslexia Ireland from 2000 to the present time; the initiatives his Department has implemented to assist parents of children with dyslexia to obtain placement and support for their children to allow them to reach their full educational potential; if his Department has had meetings with the Department of Finance to discuss possible funding assistance for parents of children with dyslexia; the funds his Department has allocated to mainstream schools who teach children with dyslexia; and the further funds he hopes to make available in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20909/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has provided annual funding of €63,500 to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland since 1999. This funding has helped the association to operate an information service for members and the public. In addition, this funding has assisted in meeting the costs associated with the attendance of some children from disadvantaged backgrounds at workshops and programmes organised by the association. Children with dyslexia have, up to now, generally been catered for on an integrated basis in ordinary primary schools where they can be supported by the learning support teacher service or the resource teacher service. At present, there are approximately 2,600 resource teachers and 1,531 learning support teachers in the primary system. The total cost of these services is in the region of €180 million annually.
Where the condition of a pupil with dyslexia is of a more serious nature, provision can be made in one of the four special schools or 23 special classes attached to ordinary primary schools and dedicated to the needs of children with dyslexia. All special schools and special classes for such children operate at a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 9:1. My Department also provides funding to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers to assist children with special needs with their education, including children with dyslexia, where recommended by relevant professionals.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department has recently developed a new weighted system of allocation of teaching supports for special needs pupils. An additional 350 teaching posts are being allocated to facilitate the introduction of the new system. The new arrangements will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence special educational needs, such as borderline mild and mild general learning disability and dyslexia, and those with learning support needs. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs. Further details of the new model will be set out in a comprehensive circular to issue to schools for the commencement of the new school year. My Department has not had meetings with the Department of Finance to discuss possible funding assistance for parents of children with dyslexia.
