Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to discuss the proposed changes to the scheme of reasonable accommodation in the certificate examinations, RACE. The scheme currently in place allows for accommodations to be put in place for students who need them when taking examinations. There is a proposal from the Dyslexia Association of Ireland to ensure extra time is given for children taking State examinations. In most, if not all, European countries the normal scenario is that students with a diagnosis of dyslexia get extra time to sit examinations. Unfortunately, Ireland does not currently follow the same procedure.

There have been reviews of the scheme over the years, but the expert review group that is always referred back to sat nearly 20 years ago. That is the report being referenced when determinations are made regarding the provision of extra time for students. In the 20 years since the review group sat, we have passed legislation giving effect to a number of rights prescribed by the EU and the UN in respect of people with disabilities. There have been massive changes in technology, including reader pens, speech-to-text technology and so on. For some reason, however, we cannot seem to get over the barrier that the expert report that was published nearly 20 years ago remains the defining factor in deciding whether children with a diagnosis of dyslexia should have the accommodation of being given extra time to complete the State examinations. To compound the matter, there is provision at third level to give students with dyslexia extra time to complete examinations. A different system is in operation at third level. At second level, however, the State Examinations Commission, SEC, does not grant requests for extra time in the majority of cases. Yet, when those same students go to third level, that accommodation is given.

It is bizarre that we have a system at second level based on the report of an expert review group that was published 20 years ago. The world and the technology available have moved on in those two decades. The system at third level has moved with the times, with students given the accommodation they need to reach their full potential. The lack of a similar provision at second level is the subject of continuous debate and argument for parents, teachers and the students who need that support. A total of 10% of our population, including adults and children, are dyslexic. They need the opportunity to reach their full potential. We can enable them to do so by giving them the accommodations they require in the State examination setting. As it stands, students with dyslexia taking State examinations face a troubling scenario in which they are slower than others to read the examination paper and write their answers. Their issues must be accommodated. It is a proven fact that dyslexia is a disability that requires a little extra help. That bit of help in this instance is the allocation of extra time. It is the European norm. I do not understand why there has not been movement to introduce the same provision in Ireland.

I acknowledge and praise the Dyslexia Association of Ireland for its campaign on this issue. It really has come to the fore in campaigning for change. Even if we get movement on the issue today, any change will not apply to the children doing their examinations in the coming weeks. Even with an immediate commitment to change, there potentially will not be any movement for 18 months. The only way we can achieve the significant change that is needed is if the Government moves quickly in the next few weeks to ensure the RACE scheme is modified to give extra time to children who are dyslexic. The lack of such provision presents a very stressful scenario for these children. I appreciate that this issue is not directly within the Minister of State's portfolio. I thank him for his attendance and I hope he can provide an update on what is a really important and personal issue for me.