Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, to the House to put one question to him, that is, are those in the education system within his remit adhering to the Haddington Road agreement? A parent who came to me last week has a son with Asperger's syndrome. Such pupils are prescribed a scribe at State examinations - the junior and leaving certificate examinations - but they do not have one for Christmas, Easter and summer examinations. While the man concerned and his wife are doing a great deal of work at home, they find that their son is regressing because, while he has the information in the head, he cannot transfer it to the biro. He has, however, done well. He did well in the junior certificate examinatin and is now going on to take the leaving certificate examination. He is doing very well in most subjects. There is only one subject in which he is somewhat weak. How can one explain that the State will only provide a scribe for somebody with Asperger's syndrome at State examinations level and nothing for other examinations? I asked the parent that question and he replied that the teachers were providing that service in good faith but that they had now withdrawn it. I want to put that question to the Minister. While we all understood the Haddington Road agreement was between both sides, are there conditions attached to it? I suggest any child with Asperger's syndrome should be provided with a scribe at any examination.