Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are proposals to change the cut off point for qualification for resource assistance for dyslexic students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38264/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has given a very high priority to the provision of resources to address the learning difficulties of children with low levels of achievement in reading such as those referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system in all primary schools with effect from the start of the 2005/2006 school year. The general allocation scheme is designed to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs including dyslexia.

Second level pupils with dyslexia are normally integrated into ordinary classes. In such situations, they may receive additional tutorial support from the remedial/learning support teacher, guidance counsellor and subject teachers. My Department allocates additional teacher support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and Vocational Education Committees to cater for pupils with special educational needs, including, where appropriate, pupils with dyslexia. I have no plans to change the current criteria for accessing additional resource teaching support for students with dyslexia.