95. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the Government’s decision-making processes for assisting children in State examinations with specific learning difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10098/26]

Sentiment score: -0.09

I wish the Minister the best of luck and I look forward to many robust debates on educational matters. I am sure the Minister is in very good hands there with the experience of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. I just want to focus on the Government's decision-making processes for assistance in State examinations for children with specific learning difficulties. My question concerns the recent announcement of ten extra minutes for children with specific learning needs.

Sentiment score: 0.34

In the decision-making process this was a 5% to 7% extra time allocation. Dyslexia Ireland has highlighted that other jurisdictions normally offer much more with a minimum of 25% extra time for students with dyslexia in second level exams, using the United Kingdom as an example. In relation to the decision-making processes here the State Examinations Commission would have made this decision. Would the commission have brought it back to the Minister's Department to sign off on? Will the Minister clarify if psychologists, special education teachers, or disability advocacy groups were involved in this decision? Was this a decision that was taken by the State Examinations Commission and brought back to the Minister's Department for sign off? It is important to clarify where we got this ten minutes from. Where did we get that decision from? We could not have taken it from other jurisdictions because, as I have outlined, they are completely different. Where did this decision on the ten minutes come from? It is almost like we just picked it out of the sky and we have no idea where it came from.

Sentiment score: 0.09

I want to make it clear that my intention here is not to criticise progress. I welcome progress but the evidence has been collated by advocacy organisations, by the students themselves, by parents and by other NGO's in relation to what we can possibly do to alleviate the pressure faced by students with dyslexia, dyscalculia or other specific learning difficulties. I have a fundamental question and it has to be asked. How did we come to this decision? I do not understand it. When comparing it to the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, for example, they give a 25% increase on the allocation of time for state examinations to children with specific learning difficulties. While this is an interim measure, does the Minister not accept the fact that students who are taking their State exams in 2026 will be far worse off if we change this for 2027 and took on the UK model? Thankfully, I am experienced in the area and perhaps ten minutes would not make much of a difference.

Sentiment score: 0.03