Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government highlights a commitment to focus on actions to improve literacy and numeracy. Dublin Fingal is Ireland's youngest county and Balbriggan, located in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, is the youngest large town in the country. My constituency's population is rapidly growing, resulting in significant strain on the school system, with long waiting lists for autism classes, special education places and reading class placements. Today, I would like to focus on reading class places. Reading classes provide a low pupil-teacher ratio and are specifically tailored to meet the needs of children with severe dyslexia. I have been contacted by several frustrated and concerned parents whose children, despite demonstrating a clear need for these reading classes and who are really struggling in their current environment, have been denied admission to every reading class in Fingal. Will the Minister please clarify the Government's policy regarding reading classes? Further, what steps will the Government take to ensure that children in urgent need of access to reading classes are accommodated?

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