All children must reach full potential, says Hanafin

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin insisted the Government was “determined to ensure that every child gets the opportunity to reach their full potential”.

Her assurance, however, came a day after the heartbroken parents of a six-year-old autistic boy were told the State had no obligation to provide a specialist educational programme for him.

Cian and Yvonne O Cuanachain sued the State over its failure to provide their son Sean with 30 hours a week of applied behavioural analysis [ABA], a form of tuition experts believed could dramatically improve his ability to learn.

The State contested the O Cuanachains’ claims in a case that ran in the High Court for 68 days at an estimated cost of €5 million.

On Friday, Mr Justice Micheal Peart ruled that the education the State will provide for Sean, in a classroom setting and which includes some limited access to ABA, is appropriate to his needs.

Ms Hanafin welcomed the judgment that evening, but a tear-stricken Yvonne O Cuanachain insisted the “light of learning” had been extinguished for Sean.

More than one hundred autism campaigners subsequently marched to the Department of Education in protest, claiming it was discriminating against children.

But at the Árd Fheis on Saturday, Ms Hanafin insisted the Government’s “overriding objective in education” was ensuring that every child had the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.

“We will build on the progress that has been made in... supporting children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas,” she told delegates.

“We will complete the roll-out of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, giving children with special needs the right to an individual education plan and putting in place a new appeals procedure.”

That act, passed in 2004, is being introduced on a phased basis until 2009.

Ms Hanafin reiterated her opposition to school league tables, and criticised Fine Gael for suggesting such tables be introduced.

“We are utterly opposed to league tables, which ghettoise schools in disadvantaged areas, penalise them with inclusive enrolment policies and encourage an even greater emphasis on exams at the expense of... other activities.”