€5m ‘wasted on special needs scare tactics’

THE State is squandering €5 million a year of taxpayers’ money deliberately dragging families with special needs children through the courts in order to break their will to battle for key education resources, TDs yesterday warned.

Anger over the emotional harm the legal actions do to families already under strain has prompted the Dáil Finance Committee to call in the State Solicitor’s Office to explain the situation.

TDs fear the Education Department is using the courts as a delaying tactic, with no expectation of the law favouring its side.