Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Children with dyslexia and their families have enough to cope with without wondering how their leaving certificate will be perceived. They do not want to be worrying about going to court to defend their rights.

This House had a major debate on education. Senators from all sides of the House argued that the education system should be rights-based. We all fought for it, but the Government did not concede it. However, the Government made a good case and said it would deal with it in a proper manner and a supportive fashion. This is the first real test. The Department says it is going to the courts to get clarity. That is not the way to find clarity. The Department needs to determine how it is going to deal with this issue. There is a problem, but it needs to find a solution. The parents of children with dyslexia should not need to drag the State through the courts so that they may get educational equality. Members spoke in debates on the issue about inclusion, integration and support structures for people with special needs. The current approach by the State is not the way to proceed. I ask the Department to reconsider. I would like the Minister to explain to the House what the Department is doing and what the other options are.