Parents of autistic children in Waterford are urging the Government to release finance approved to the board of management of a new school to enable it to open in September.
The Department of Education, in a letter issued on March 29th, approved funding for the school's accommodation. However, patron of the school and mother of two autistic children, Lucy Phelan, Grantstown Village, said the department has not yet released the finance. She said yesterday the school had initially been approved in May 2005.
The Waterford Applied Behavioural Analysis School was scheduled to enlist the first 12 children this September.
A director and principal were appointed at the end of 2005, following approval by the department to set up the school on a three-year pilot basis. The director did not take up the position as no funding for the salary was at that time approved.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said: "The department wrote to the school at the end of March and issued a letter of approval to the board of management regarding accommodation." She said the letter included a form of acceptance.
However, a number of outstanding issues needed to be resolved before the detailed form could be completed. It is understood the specialised construction of the premises, at the Cleayboy Business Park in the city, will not be completed for a further two months.
