Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will publish the NEPS study on prevalence of special educational needs in the Leitrim and Dundalk area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5075/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The project referred to by the Deputy was commissioned by an internal liaison committee of my Department that includes representatives of the inspectorate, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS and special education section. The project involved the assessment of all pupils in second to sixth class in the mainstream primary schools in the town of Dundalk and the county of Leitrim. After appropriate training, teachers assessed 3,897 pupils in 55 schools using measures of cognitive ability and attainments. The teachers also completed questionnaires on some pupils.

The statistical analysis and interpretation of the results has proved to be time-consuming. A draft report on the project has been presented to the internal departmental committee which has suggested certain amendments. When the final version of the report has been agreed, I will consider its findings and make a decision about publication.