An autistic boy was given High Court leave yesterday to seek orders directing the State to provide him with appropriate education.
In an affidavit, the mother of the boy, now aged four, said his educational needs could be met only in a special class where the teacher was trained to teach children with autism. The strain of having an autistic child was enough without having to fight for services and education.
Mr John Hanlon, for the boy, said two schools in the greater Dublin area catered for autistic children but there were no places available. The boy's mother was amenable to him attending special classes at a school near his home. The school's principal was amenable once adequate resources were provided.
He said he was seeking an order directing the State to provide appropriate education for the boy from September as he urgently needed speech and occupational therapy. The boy's mother had written to the Taoiseach and Minister for Education but had received no positive responses.
Mrs Justice McGuinness granted leave to seek orders directing the State to provide for appropriate education. She also granted leave to seek a declaration that the State, in failing to provide for suitable education, had deprived the boy of his constitutional rights.