Dyslexia Association of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Dyslexia Association of Ireland

Date published 14 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details In-person meeting with the State Examinations Commission (SEC) re the issue of extra time in state examinations for dyslexic students

Intended results We sought agreement by the SEC to review the Reasonable Accommodations in Certificate Examinations (RACE) scheme to better reflect international and third-level practice including the addition of extra time as an option for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties who need it.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Rosie Bissett and Donald Ewing

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Preceding the meeting DAI had set up an online petition on to capture the scale of public support for the call for extra time (https://www.change.org/p/call-for-extra-time-for-dyslexic-students-in-junior-cycle-and-leaving-certificate-exams). We also asked interested parties to contact their local representatives to seek their support for this issue.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

31st May 2023, 2pm, at the SEC offices in Athlone

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Andrea Feeney Chief Executive Officer (The State Examinations Commission)