A mother in Athlone has changed herself to the gates of the offices of Department of Education in a dispute over her son’s pre-school place.
Three-year-old Aaron, who has autism, has been offered a place at a school in Ballaghmore – a 48km round trip from his home.
The little boy had previously attended Jonix Educational Services in Portlaoise – a private school for children with autism – under the home tuition grant. According to RTÉ, his mother Debbie claims the department is refusing to sanction the grant for one more year and won’t move until the matter has been sorted.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Debbie has said her son’s condition is described as severe, and insists her protest is about equality and justice.
Explaining how her son, who does not speak and has few independent skills, was making progress at his school she admits that work is now being reversed.
"This is the desperate measures I am coming to, because I need to have my son reinstated in school, because no child, regardless of what their condition, or whatever their case may be, should be denied an education for almost seven weeks," Ms Byrne said.
The mother has also said the principal of the proposed school doesn’t have the correct staff to deal with Aaron’s condition, and won’t until January 2016.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Skills said: "In relation to this case, the department received the application for home tuition this morning. The application is incomplete."
"However, the application will be considered as expeditiously as possible and if further information is required to complete this consideration the parents will be contacted. I expect that a decision on the application will be made early next week," the spokesperson added.
