Specialist autism unit gains funding
The High Court heard yesterday that three Wexford couples had agreed a settlement in a case taken against the Minister for Education and Children, Noel Dempsey, on behalf of their autistic children Evan Murphy, six, Derek Dodebier, five, and Mark Howlin, six, all of Wexford town.
Under the terms of the settlement, the State will fund the Applied Behavioural Analysis unit at Scoil Mhuire National School in Coolcotts, Wexford. It is estimated that the unit will cost 40,000 per pupil per year.
As part of the settlement, the State has agreed to a specialist training budget, extra teaching hours during normal summer holidays, a travel allowance and the provision of materials, equipment and special therapy teaching.
The department will also provide a special needs assistant for each pupil and more staff if the class size grows to more than six students.
Michael Gleeson, SC for the three families, said they had established a specialist school from their own resources in March 2001, using a pre-fab building at Scoil Mhuire.
Mr Gleeson told the court that a specialist ABA unit within a normal school environment provided the best advantages of both systems for the educational development of autistic children.
All three families praised the role played by the Scoil Mhuire principal Pat Goff, who allowed the ABA unit at the school.
Fredrike Frederiks, Derek's mother, said Mr Goff had agreed to the ABA unit without extra resources for incorporating it in the school structure.
"We are delighted with the school set-up. It has just been fantastic and well worth the struggle," she said.
Mark's mother, Patricia Howlin, said her family's life had changed completely since Mark had attended the school.
"He was completely out of control," Ms Howlin said.
"Now he is much more confident and interested in playing with other children, which is something I never thought I would see. His languages skills have also come on so well," she said.
Evan's parents, Susan and Tim Murphy, were also awarded special damages of 10,000 for money spent on their son's education before funding for the school was agreed earlier this year.
Mr Justice Henry Abbott heard that the department had agreed to pay all costs in the case.
