Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Petition No. P00049/23 seeks the introduction of extra time as a reasonable accommodation for dyslexic students in State examinations - junior cycle and leaving certificate. The petitioner is Ms Rosie Bissett on behalf of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland. A lot of work has gone into this as well, and we know we are working to a tight timeframe. The recommendations are that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Department of Education for comment within 14 days and that the Department should be invited to respond as soon as possible, given the implications of its response for dyslexic students in the upcoming junior certificate and leaving certificate examinations. Also raised at our private session was that we write to the Department and the State Examinations Commission for a reply within one week to see if we can get this up and running for this year's examinations, if possible. If need be, we can hold a separate special meeting of the committee and invite both the Department and the State Examinations Commission to appear. One of the responses we got was that it would give an advantage to students in that situation. The whole committee and I thought that was scandalous. If we can, the process we will take is that we will write to the Department and the State Examinations Commission and look for a response within six days instead of the usual 14 days and, if need be, hold a special meeting to see if we can get this over the line for this year's exams. Do members have any views or is that agreed?