Special needs education claims cost €14.5m

MORE than €14.5 million has been paid by the Department of Education in legal costs and damages to families seeking better education for children with special needs.

However, officials believe their liabilities are on the way down because of test cases decided in the courts which should reduce the possibility of new cases.

They have also told Education Minister Ruairi Quinn that continued investment in resources for special education in schools has contributed to a fall in the number of new cases and resultant costs.