State spending millions to fight autism cases

THE State is facing more than 120 legal challenges from families seeking proper care for their autistic children, it emerged yesterday.

Autism campaigners said the multi-million euro legal bill the State was paying to contest the cases could instead be used to provide proper facilities for emergency cases like Lewis O'Carolan's.

"There are around 120 court cases being taken regarding autism," said Mark de Salvo of Irish Autism Alliance. "We shake our heads at the cost for the State in contesting these cases. We would much prefer that money to be spent on people with autism. You are talking multi-millions."