Extra Time in State Exams for Students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2025-11-12
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Ollie Crowe (FF), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank her for being here. This is a topic I raised earlier in the year in a Commencement matter with Senator Curley. It is an issue that could be resolved quickly enough in a straightforward manner and I hope today's debate will help that goal. As has been outlined, dyslexia is a learning difference that affects about one in ten students, manifesting on a spectrum from mild to severe. As Members will be aware, it is legally recognised as a disability under both Irish and EU law. That recognition ensures the right to various accommodations in both educational settings and the workplace. In many countries, students with dyslexia and other similar conditions are granted additional time to support them during their formal state exams. These countries include France, where students receive 33% additional time, Italy, where it is 30%, and the UK, where students receive 25% additional time. There is currently no provision for extra time in Ireland despite advocates having raised it over a number of years. When I raised this issue earlier in the year, I talked to a lot of families across Galway. I was approached by a number of people who told me different stories about how much stress this was causing and how much their children would benefit from a time allowance similar to what is available in other countries. There are a number of examples and that was just one. There is an issue affecting thousands of families across the country every year. They are not looking for special treatment, just a level playing field that acknowledges their child's situation.
It is welcome that the State Examinations Commission has said a pilot scheme will be tested in 2026 and that the scheme will be available to all candidates nationally who meet the eligibility criteria. It is some level of progress. Having said that, I fail to see the need for any pilot scheme. There is no shortage of research and information available on this topic. As families affected by this issue noted to me, extra time is already allocated to students with dyslexia in Ireland at third level, where students receive an additional ten minutes per hour of exam. It is impossible to explain to anyone affected by this issue why there are different rules for second level and third level education in the same country. I welcome the fact that we are finally beginning to see some action on this issue but it is beyond my comprehension as to why it is so slow and drawn out. I urge the Department and the Minister to engage with the State Examinations Commission and attempt to finally resolve this as a matter of priority. I thank Senator Curley for highlighting the issue continuously since he was elected.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-11-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:18+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-11-12