School challenges department order to enrol autistic boy

A national school has brought a High Court challenge to a direction from the Department of Education requiring it to enrol a young autistic boy in an autism specific class next September.

Lucan East Educate Together National School claims that the direction is “irrational” and involves the boy being “leapfrogged” over at least 12 other children, who also unsuccessfully applied for places in the class, which is limited to six pupils.

The direction was issued by the secretary general of the department after a committee of the department granted an appeal, brought by the mother of a boy who failed to get a place in the class, against the school’s decision.