Special education needs fund ‘totally inadequate’

FAMILIES are paying more than €1,000 to have children with special needs psychologically assessed because the Government is not giving them enough educational help, Fine Gael TD Olwyn Enright told the Dáil yesterday.

Ms Enright, the party’s education spokesperson, was raising concerns over resources for the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill, published by Education Minister Noel Dempsey in July. The bill provides for education plans to be made for all children with physical and intellectual disabilities.

She said she knew of families who had spent almost €1,200 to have their children assessed due to the inadequate service provided by the Department of Education.