Seanad debates

Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Adjournment Matter. - Special Educational Needs.

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I raise the issue of dyslexia, although not on behalf of any organisation. As the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, is aware, the Dyslexia Association of Ireland is a voluntary organisation which relies very much on subscriptions and voluntary inputs from teachers. It has done tremendous work. With its workers, volunteers and all those involved, it would like to see the recommendations made in the 1998 report submitted to the former Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, and published in 2001, implemented. That is the reason I raise the issue.

Service provision and mainstream funding are needed. For example, the group in Letterkenny, County Donegal, has relied on local authority funding. It received €10,000 in development funding last year from local authority subscriptions as an acknowledgement of the work it was doing. This is a major issue and funding, whether for psychologists or otherwise, is required to identify the needs of young people who suffer from dyslexia. I know the group refers to those who suffer from dyslexia but perhaps "suffer" is the wrong word. It is politically incorrect to use the word "suffer" in that the people concerned do not suffer; they just have a different way of looking at things. I bring this issue to the Minister of State's attention.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am pleased to have this opportunity to outline to the House the position on the issue raised by the Senator. All children in the primary system who have been assessed as having special educational needs, including children with dyslexia, have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs, irrespective of their level or location. The nature and level of the support provided are based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child.

Children with dyslexia are generally catered for on an integrated basis in ordinary primary schools where they can be supported by the learning support or resource teacher service. There are over 2,300 resource teachers – whole-time equivalents – and 1,531 learning support teachers in the primary system.

Where the condition is of a more serious nature, provision can be made in one of the four special schools or 23 special classes attached to ordinary primary schools dedicated to the needs of children with dyslexia. Decisions on placements are based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child and parental wishes in relation to their children.

Review and assessment of the adequacy of educational provision and support services in mainstream and special classes and schools are carried out as part of the normal work of my Department's inspectorate. All special schools and classes dedicated to children with dyslexia operate at a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 9:1. Pupils attending such facilities attract a special increased rate of capitation funding. Additional resources are allocated to individual second level schools to cater for special needs pupils enrolled in these schools. Applications for resources are referred to the national educational psychological service and each case is considered on its merits.

My Department also provides funding for schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers to assist children with special needs with their education, including children with dyslexia. Grant aid is also provided for the Dyslexia Association of Ireland to support its work with persons with dyslexia.

The report of the task force on dyslexia contains over 60 individual recommendations ranging across a wide variety of issues from identification and assessment, to models of service delivery, specialist training for service providers, to issues relating to structural reforms. Since the task force reported, a number of initiatives have been taken in the area of dyslexia. These include: the introduction of the first ever on-line training course for teachers catering for pupils with dyslexia; the appointment of ten new learning support trainers to the primary curriculum support programme specifically to provide in-depth support for the implementation of learning support guidelines for children with dyslexia; and a reduction from 11:1 to 9:1 in the pupil-teacher ratio applicable to special classes catering for children with dyslexia.

In addition to these measures, a key focus of my Department has been on advancing the fundamental structural and legislative measures which are necessary to underpin the development and delivery of services for persons with special needs, including children with dyslexia. A key development on the structural front has been the Government's decision to approve the establishment of the National Council for Special Education. The council, which will have a local area presence, will play a key role in the development and delivery of services for persons with special needs, including children with dyslexia. It will have a research and advisory role and will establish expert groups to consider specific areas of special needs provision. It will also establish a consultative forum to facilitate input from the education partners and other interested parties. Arrangements for the establishment of the council are now well advanced. A chief executive officer designate has been appointed and an order to establish the council will be brought before the Oireachtas shortly.

I will also be bringing forward legislation, based on the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2002, aimed at establishing the rights and entitlements of persons with special needs, including dyslexia, to an appropriate education service and providing the necessary framework for effective service delivery. My objective is to secure the passage of this legislation through the Oireachtas before the summer recess. Given the assessment already being carried out and the proposals I have outlined, I have no plans to carry out any further reviews at this time.

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Will she or her officials consider inspecting the good work taking place in the out-of-school workshops in Donegal, which are helping young people with dyslexia in a voluntary capacity? There is no funding for the teachers or the buildings.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Senator for his question. I am sure the work being done in Donegal is very much appreciated by the Department of Education and Science. I will try to facilitate a meeting between the people in Donegal and my officials, which can be held in either Donegal or Dublin.

The Seanad adjourned at 6.55 p.m. until 10.30a.m. on Wednesday, 28 May 2003.