Pre-school gets funding after Dáil protest

The Department of Education has said it will provide funding to allow a Co Wicklow pre-school for children with autism to remain open.

This follows a protest at the Dáil yesterday by parents of pupils at St Catherine's School, Barnacoyle House, near Ashford.

A department spokeswoman said yesterday the National Council for Special Education had told the school that a third pre-school class for children with autism would be sanctioned with immediate effect.

The initiative was guardedly received by campaigners.

Earlier, some 50 people protested at the Dáil to call for funding for the Applied Behavioural Analysis section in the school. This service - a specially tailored one-on-one programme - is currently being funded through voluntary contributions.

The campaigners said that, should funding not be granted, nine children would be left with nowhere to go from next month.

Trevor Dagg, whose three-year-old daughter, Robyn, was diagnosed with autism in October 2004, said the service was invaluable.

"They look at Robyn's strengths, where she needs to develop . . . and then they run a series of programmes for that . . . Having to fight to keep the programme up and running is just a travesty."