Girl’s place in care at risk if assistant is denied, court hears

The High Court has heard that if the Department of Education cannot provide a special needs assistant for a girl in care her entire placement could be jeopardised.

The case involved a girl in a care facility in the Midlands, with her family seeking a special needs assistant to help her in school. The court heard that at a previous meeting it had been agreed that a number of special needs hours would be required, with one counsel stating it was now “the make or break point” in her step-down plan.

Legal representation for the HSE said whatever resources were available would be put towards the girl’s care and educational needs but there was also a need to be realistic, with the girl likely to be in a queue for special needs support.