Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge the tremendous work she has done within the Department. Having a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for special education was an important move. I acknowledge her announcement regarding the summer programme, which is very welcome.

I want to raise an issue regarding Department of Education Circular 38/07, which outlines the criteria for enrolment in special classes of pupils with specific speech and language disorders. It requires that a full-time teacher be assigned to each class, that classes operate with a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 7:1 and that eligible pupils may spend up to two years in such a class. As we know, some pupils with special needs have been seriously impacted by the Covid crisis. I know of a seven-year-old girl in County Mayo who has lost out on 35% of the time in her specific speech and language class. I am asking that an amendment be made to the circular in the light of the pandemic.

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