Ahern to be called on amid FF disquiet on ABA

DEMANDS for wider services for children with autism are likely to be raised with the Taoiseach by Fianna Fáil TDs and senators following this week’s Dáil debate on the issue.

Comments by the party’s former deputy leader Mary O’Rourke during Fine Gael’s defeated motion seeking government funding for specialist autism schools have raised pressure on Mr Ahern and Education Minister Mary Hanafin to review government policy in this area.

Ms O’Rourke, a former education minister, said there is a lingering animosity in the Department of Education to providing one-to-one Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) for children who need it.