Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are special services available in County Wexford for children (details supplied) in County Wexford with high IQ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26352/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Teachers can use strategies such as curriculum differentiation, curriculum enrichment and acceleration to facilitate the development of students at primary and second level who are exceptionally able. In recent years, new syllabi and curricula have been devised for second-level schools. They have been designed in such a way that the differing needs of a wide range of pupil ability can be catered for by their teachers. The revised primary curriculum, which has been supplied to every primary teacher, recognises the importance of developing the full potential of the child and caters for pupil diversity, including meeting the needs of exceptionally able pupils. In addition, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in collaboration with its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Council for Curriculum Examination and Assessment, has produced draft guidelines for teachers of exceptionally able students. It is intended that these guidelines will be distributed to all primary and post-primary schools in November 2007. My Department provides annual funding to the Centre for Talented Youth at Dublin City University to support its work in delivering programmes which are designed specifically for exceptionally able students of first and second level age. This year's grant is €97,000. Of particular significance at second level are the International Olympiads in the science subjects, information technology and mathematics, in which the most exceptionally able and highest achieving pupils compete. I am informed that The Irish Centre for Talented Youth provides services for the parents of high ability children and the children themselves in various centres throughout the country including the Wexford area. It is open to parents to contact the CTYI directly by telephone at 01 7005634 or by accessing its website, www.dcu.ie-ctyi, for further information.