Ahern defends fighting autism case
However, Mr Ahern also said he took no satisfaction in seeing parents having to fight issues relating to their children in court.
He was responding to Green Party leader Trevor Sargent who raised the case of Seán Ó Cuanacháin, the young Wicklow boy whose parents brought a case seeking the State to provide him with 30 hours of applied behaviour each week.
Green Party chairman John Gormley asked: “Does he welcome forcing parents in that position into court to obtain the services their children need? Following the case, will the Government provide funding for autism services such as ABA? Will the Taoiseach ensure the waiting lists for an appointment for assessment, which can take up to two years, will be reduced?” Mr Ahern said the Government had worked very hard to provide for special needs across a range of areas.
“This year €820 million will be spent on special needs education, which is an increase of more than 30% on last year,” he said.
“A total of 8,000 special needs assistants are working in mainstream primary and second level schools compared to 300 on the day I became Taoiseach,” he said.
