The mothers of four-year-old twin girls and an eight-year-old boy suffering from autism yesterday secured High Court permission to challenge the State's failure to provide appropriate education and therapy for their children.
Mr John Hanlon, instructed by Mr Pol O Murchu, solicitor, said that, in the case of the twins, Beech Park special school for autistic children in Stillorgan, Co Dublin had a long waiting list.
The children's mother was a social worker and her husband had had to give up his job to look after the twins and a 10-month boy.
Mr Hanlon said that in the case of the eight-year-old boy the parents were quite happy to train the child at home.
Both parents had attended a programme in the United States at a cost of £15,000 where they were taught a programme of education suitable to the needs of their son. They now needed to do a refresher course in order to pursue the programme and required £15,000 from the State as they did not have the resources. They had sought funding without success.
Mr Justice Lavan granted leave to both mothers to seek judicial review of the State's failure to provide appropriate education suitable to the children's needs.