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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Ceisteanna (262)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

262. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide extra funding to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30712/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

 My Department provides annual funding to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland at national level which helps the organisation operate an information service for members and the public as well as assisting in meeting the costs associated with the attendance of some children from disadvantaged backgrounds at workshops and programmes organised by the association.

While there are no plans to increase the funding provided by my Department to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland, my Department continues to provide a range of resources for pupils with Specific Learning Disabilities, of which Dyslexia is one such SLD.

All mainstream schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to cater for children with SLD, either under the General Allocation Model at primary school level, or through High Incidence and learning support allocations for post primary schools.

Schools have access to psychological assessments through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

Further resources provided to schools to support pupils with dyslexia include;

Funding for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers and/or software to assist children with special educational needs, including children with SLDs, where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. Schools apply to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) for such support.

Special arrangements at state exams

Additional training for teachers who support children with dyslexia, through the Special Education Support Service (SESS).

An information resource pack on Dyslexia in CD-Rom, DVD and video format, has been developed by the Department in association with the Department of Education in Northern Ireland.

This product has been made available to all primary and post-primary schools. The DVD and video provides support for parents of pupils with dyslexia while the CD-Rom assists teachers who are teaching children with dyslexia in the mainstream classroom.

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