Full judgment due in education case for autistic boy

The High Court will give its full judgment today in the case of an autistic boy who earlier this year lost his action aimed at securing State funding for a specific form of education.

Mr Justice Michael Peart will give his reasons for concluding that the programme of education being provided by the State to six-year-old Sean O Cuanachain from Arklow was appropriate.

In March of this year, Mr Justice Peart refused to make orders forcing the State to pay for an ABA or autism-specific programme.

This was despite the evidence of an educational psychologist who recommended that he should have access to ABA tuition for 30 hours a week.

It is understood State funding for his ABA tuition for half the required hours has since ceased.

The judge said the State's 'model A' programme was appropriate in Sean's case but today he will rule as to whether the State had failed to meet Sean's past education needs over a two-year period and if so, whether the boy will be entitled to damages.