Proposal to scrap Irish exemption for dyslexic students would be a shattering blow for families – Lombard

An Oireachtas Committee which is recommending that students with dyslexia should no longer be exempt from studying Irish needs to explain its rationale, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Cork South-West said that the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish language, Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community is reluctant to engage properly with the dyslexic community, despite its report containing recommendations that could have potentially devastating consequences for them.

Senator Lombard said: “This is National Dyslexic Week, it’s hugely important that this proposal is brought once more into the public domain. The Committee published its report in February of this year, which states that the exemptions system for the study of Irish for dyslexic students should be abolished. Instead, a new approach to second-language learning accommodating individual student need is recommended.

“Slower reading, spelling and writing speeds are some of the challenges experienced by dyslexic students, often accompanied by difficulty with memory and processing speed. The Irish exemption affords them additional time during term time to avail of additional supports.

“Therefore, the proposal to scrap the exemption has naturally caused huge concern within the dyslexic community. The Chair of the Committee, Sinn Féin TD Aonghus Ó Snodaigh has failed to respond to multiple calls to debate this proposal properly.

“To add insult to injury, the report was only published entirely in Irish, which further alienates people who are not fluent in Irish, which includes the vast majority of the population.

“As students move onto secondary level, they are further disadvantaged in timed exams and unable to demonstrate their full subject knowledge in the limited time allowed. That is why parents and students are calling for an overall review of the Reasonable Accommodations in Certificate Examinations (RACE) scheme.

“What they don’t need, is a half-baked kite flown in public in a language they don’t study and without any right to reply or debate its viability.

“It is incumbent on this Committee to fully engage with all parties who are affected by dyslexia; students, educators and parents. I’m calling on Deputy Ó Snodaigh to stop hiding and come out and debate this report without any more delay”.