A severely autistic boy with serious behavioural problems has been awarded the legal costs of his High Court bid to secure appropriate education from the State.
The award, estimated at up to €300,000, is against the Minister for Education and the Northern Area Health Board.
Lewis O'Carolan's parents failed last week in their attempt to seek appropriate education for their son abroad.
The High Court ruled that proposals by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Education for a care and education unit in north Dublin for Lewis were "objectively adequate".
A separate action for damages brought on behalf of Lewis O’Carolan (14) for the alleged failure of the Minister to provide appropriate education for him to date will proceed later.
Today, in awarding costs of a three-day hearing which had focused on providing a place for Lewis now, Mr Justice John McMenamim said he was doing taking into account the fact Lewis is a minor and because an offer from the Minister to place the boy in a centre "crystallised" about the time of the hearing.