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21/04/2008
Government Spent €22m Fighting Special Needs Families
It has been revealed the government has spent €22 million on court battles against parents demanding educational help for children with special needs in the last five years.
The Government was accused of wasting resources by Fine Gael, who said they were trying to “wrestle to the ground” families of pupils with autism, ADHD and intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities asking for their constitutional rights.
Legal costs for cases involving the education and health departments against parents demanding resources for their children stand at €19.2m since 2003, while settlements come to €2.7m, according to official figures supplied to Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes in parliamentary answers.
Campaigners insisted the stance was a far cry from the 2000 promise by then Education Minister Michael Woods there would be “virtually an open cheque book” for disabled pupils following the High Court Sinnott case which secured the right for such students to a state education.
Mr Hayes said: “The Government has a history of trying to deliberately wrestle parents to the floor through the courts where those parents just want justice for their children.
“It is clear that, more often than not, parents have been dragged through the courts as the educational and health needs of their children are not being met by the Government.”
Health Minister Mary Harney said her department was involved in 56 cases seeking access to education and health support services.
(DW)
The Government was accused of wasting resources by Fine Gael, who said they were trying to “wrestle to the ground” families of pupils with autism, ADHD and intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities asking for their constitutional rights.
Legal costs for cases involving the education and health departments against parents demanding resources for their children stand at €19.2m since 2003, while settlements come to €2.7m, according to official figures supplied to Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes in parliamentary answers.
Campaigners insisted the stance was a far cry from the 2000 promise by then Education Minister Michael Woods there would be “virtually an open cheque book” for disabled pupils following the High Court Sinnott case which secured the right for such students to a state education.
Mr Hayes said: “The Government has a history of trying to deliberately wrestle parents to the floor through the courts where those parents just want justice for their children.
“It is clear that, more often than not, parents have been dragged through the courts as the educational and health needs of their children are not being met by the Government.”
Health Minister Mary Harney said her department was involved in 56 cases seeking access to education and health support services.
(DW)
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