President Mary McAleese will officiate at a one-day conference in DCU next month on the needs of gifted children.

Organised by the Irish Association for Gifted Children, in conjunction with the Irish Centre for Talented Youth, it will be held on Saturday, November 7th from 9.30 a.m. to 5.15 p.m.

The conference is designed to help parents and teachers in identifying and catering for the needs of the 20,000 Irish children who are "exceptionally able". For further information contact the IAGC at Carmichael House, 4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 (tel: (01) 873 5702; fax: (01) 873 5737).