Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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464. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the reading unit for children with dyslexia planned for a school (details supplied) has been cancelled; and if there are plans for further reading rooms to be developed in the Dublin 7 and Dublin 15 area. [25599/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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A new model for allocating special education teachers (SETs) to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools.  Over 13,600 SETs are currently provided to mainstream schools to support the learning needs of pupils who have additional needs in literacy, including those arising from specific learning difficulties.

It is the policy of my Department, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that pupils with such additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes with additional provision made by a special education teacher.

In September 2018, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was requested to develop Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.

This Policy Advice is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.