Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the procedures in place to assist persons who suffer from dyslexia when undertaking an aptitude test for a State position. [21894/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Services (PAS) is an independent statutory body which provides professional recruitment and selection services to the civil and public service under licence from the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA).  As a public body established under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004, PAS is also obliged, under section 34(1)(b) of that Act, to ensure that "standards of probity, merit, equity and fairness" apply to all of its recruitment and selection work.  These binding standards are set out in the Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service, as published by the Commission for Public Service Appointments.

Competitions advertised by PAS are open to all applicants (including people with disabilities) who fulfil the eligibility requirements set out at that time.  PAS carefully considers all requests for reasonable accommodations.  In considering such requests, PAS is conscious of the rights of people with dyslexia and of the obligations on PAS to observe those rights and to act in accordance with the provisions of the relevant equality legislation.

To assist PAS in considering request for reasonable accommodations in a fair and balanced way, candidates are asked to submit evidence in support of their request. PAS will consider letters or reports from relevant professionals which clearly indicate the severity and the type of accommodation(s) that may be relevant to the person.  For example, candidates may be afforded extra time and/or alternative formats in order to complete the Assessment tests.