Funding for a new class for autistic children in a special school today in Barnacoyle, Co Wicklow was sanctioned today following a protest by parents outside the Dail.
More than 60 people protested outside the Dáil today over a lack of funding for special pre-school facilities in St Catherine's ABA School in Barnacoyle school where nine children suffer from autism. A further five children were on the waiting list.
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| A section of the crowd at today's protest. Photograph: David Labanyi |
In a statement this afternoon the National Council for Special Education said it had sanctioned the funding for a third pre-school/early intervention class for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This will accommodate all the children at the school including those on the waiting list.
The issue arose when parents of autistic children in St Catherine's who have been attending the pre-school since September, faced the end-of-one to one specialist care for their children at end of the March.
The pre-school at St Catherine's was set up as a centre of excellence for children with autism two years ago offering specialised applied behavioural analysis (ABA) to youngsters. There are 12 ABA schools nationwide.
The school currently has 16 pupils and parents had fund-raised to provide services for another nine and it was these pupils whose education was uncertain.
The NCSE said it has been in contact with the school to explain how it will be resourced, to meet the needs of the children in the ASD classes.
The ABA teaching method costs approximately €45,000 per annum per child.
