Parents health demands backed by report

PARENTS protesting for three months the care arrangements for their mentally handicapped children have seen their demands for change backed by an independent report.

The report, commissioned by management at St Vincent’s Centre, Navan Road, Dublin, agreed with parents the children’s health needs should have priority over their education needs.

It also recommended that Education Minister Noel Dempsey and Health Minister Micheál Martin immediately appoint an external team of experts to assess each child and prepare an individual needs plan. The 32 children attending the Development Education Centre (DEC) are profoundly mentally handicapped; more than half are in wheelchairs; 87% use nappies and 91% cannot speak.