The special reading schools are full-time national schools for children with significant dyslexia, provided by the Dept. of Education and Skills and so are free of charge. The regular school curriculum is followed, with the exception of Irish. There is a strong focus on literacy attainment. The current pupil-teacher ratio is 9:1 in these classes. Children usually attend for one to two years during Primary level, and then return to their own school.
The criterion for admission to a reading school are usually that the student must have:
Average/above average intelligence
Performance in basic literacy skills as measured by a standardised test should be at a very low level compared to the vast majority of children in a similar age cohort.
A list will be prepared of eligible children up to and including those on the 5th Percentile for Word Reading, and places will be offered in ascending order.
The pupil should have completed Second Class or be at least 8 years old and not more than 12 years old.
Contact each school directly for details on their enrolment policies, and application deadlines. If a place is secured you may also be able to get a School Transport Grant – the reading school/class can advise you further on this.
The Reading Schools are as follows:
Catherine McAuley N.S.,
Baggott Street,
Dublin 2.
Tel. 01 6615645.
Oliver Plunkett School,
Alma Place, Monkstown,
Co. Dublin.
Tel. 01 2808824.
St. Rose’s N.S.,
Balrothery,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
Tel. 01 4517933.
St. Killian’s School,
Westgate Road,
Bishopstown, Cork.
Tel. 021 4865839.
Reading Classes
A number of National Schools now have reading classes, where one or more classes are devoted to students with specific reading difficulties. A full list of classes is available at https://ncse.ie/special-classes, with dyslexia falling under the category of “specific learning disability”. Some of the schools with Reading Classes are as follows:
Oliver Plunkett N.S.,
Malahide,
Co. Dublin.
Tel. 01 8453272
St. Thomas’s S.N.S.,
Jobstown,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
Tel. 01 4526555
St. Mologas N.S.,
Bremore,
Balbriggan,
Co. Dublin.
Tel. 01 8413133.
Scoil Colmcille,
Newbrook Rd.,
Donaghmede,
Dublin 13.
Tel. 01 8477300.
Holy Family S.N.S.,
Forest Fields,
Rivervalley,
Swords,
Co. Dublin.
Tel. 01 8406334
Ennis N.S.,
Ennis,
Co. Clare.
Tel. 065 6829158
Holy Family Senior School,
Ennis,
Co. Clare.
Tel. 065 6828893
Scoil Caitriona Senior,
Renmore,
Co. Galway.
Tel. 091 753613
St. Aidan’s Primary School,
Enniscorthy,
Co. Wexford.
Tel. 053 9244441.
St. Paul’s S.N.S.,
Rathmullen,
Drogheda,
Co.Louth.
Tel. 041 9833681
