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."

He said one case he was involved in 2002 cost the Department of Education €2 million to contest.

Pat Matthews of the Irish Autism Society agreed: "We're throwing money away in conflict, to fight all of these court cases, money that could be used to provide services."

He said while there were special schools available, the problem arose when a child could not fit in because of behavioural problems.

He said there were around 2,000 autistic children of school-going age, and that at any time 10% might manifest behavioural difficulties. "We need a centre that when a child is having severe difficulties, they can be properly educated, with behavioural programmes."

Mr de Salvo estimated there were around 20 other emergency cases like Lewis's, where parents had taken their children out of services because they were unhappy with them.

"I'm somewhat confused by the High Court verdict, because we seemed to be making progress with the Department and the Health Service Executive, in that they are providing funding for more suitable units for children."

He said the department was funding between 10 and 12 early intervention units, called Saplings, which were staffed by trained experts. These cater for children up to the age of 12.

Mr de Salvo said the Irish Autism Alliance was working with the department to set up a similar service for post-primary children.

He said the main problem was in relation to children who were diagnosed in the early to late 1990s, who received limited intervention.

"For some it worked, but for a percentage it didn't work, like Lewis, and not only did the early intervention not work it led to the children becoming more autistic," he said.