Admissions to Catherine McAuley NS
If a parent wishes to apply to our Reading School they must first apply to the NCSE for a letter of eligibility. More details on this can be found here. The NCSE require parents to apply for and receive this letter of eligibility by 1st of October 2025. Applying for this is a priority for parents interested in applying for a place in our Reading School. Please note receipt of a letter of eligibility does not guarantee a place.
To start the application process, a copy of the educational psychologist’s report, which diagnoses severe Dyslexia (as defined and outlined in the admissions policy for the purposes of enrolment) should be forwarded to the principal of Catherine McAuley National School by email or hard copy. This can be done directly by a parent or guardian. It is also possible for a school principal or educational psychologist, with the permission of the parents or guardians, to send us a report. It is most important to ensure that clear contact details are enclosed with it: name, full home address, and contact numbers, as well as the name of the pupil’s current school.
Applications must be received by Thursday, 18th December 2025, in order to be considered for September 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered under any circumstances.
Decisions concerning enrolment will be communicated on 30th January 2026. This is due to NCSE deadlines for enrolment and transport applications. Currently, we have 99 places in total at Catherine McAuley National School, with an average of 50 places available each year.
📌 Catherine McAuley NS – Application Checklist: Enrolment for September 2026
✅ Step 1: Apply for NCSE Letter of Eligibility
⦁ Deadline: October 1st, 2025
⦁ Submit application through the Parents Notify Portal (online form on the NCSE website).
⦁ NCSE reviews report(s) → If criteria met, you will receive a Letter of Eligibility.
⦁ This letter is required for your application to Catherine McAuley NS.
👉 Support: parentsnotify@ncse.ie | 01 603 3346
👉 Contact your local SENO if needed.
✅ Step 2: Submit Documents to Catherine McAuley NS
⦁ Deadline: December 18th, 2025
⦁ Email to info@catherinemcauleyns.ie (hard or soft copy accepted) must include:
⦁ NCSE Letter of Eligibility
⦁ Educational Psychology Report (≤ 2 years old)
⦁ Any additional reports
🎯 Enrolment Criteria (All 3 Required)
1. Average IQ (FSIQ or GAI): 90 or above
2. Word Reading Subtest: Score at or below the 1st or 2nd percentile
3. Clinician’s Recommendation: Must state child should attend a reading school/unit
⚠️ Places are offered in ascending order of Word Reading scores.
⚠️ A score at the 1st or 2nd percentile does not guarantee a place.
📅 Key Dates
⦁ October 1st, 2025 → NCSE Letter of Eligibility deadline
⦁ December 18th, 2025 → Reports + NCSE letter of eligibility due to school
⦁ January 2026 → Enrolment process
⦁ February 2026 → Decisions issued
📌 Additional Notes
⦁ If the assessment recommends Assistive Technology, apply through your current school immediately (must be within 2 years of the report).
⦁ Consider also applying to other Reading Schools/Classes in Dublin:
👉 ⦁ Dyslexia Association of Ireland List of Reading Schools and classes