Funding row shuts school for children with autism [Independent.ie]
- Published: 28 July 2011
A SCHOOL that provides specialist teaching for children with autism will close tomorrow after the education minister rejected new funding proposals.
Until now, the parents of the eight pupils at the Achieve ABA school in Donaghmede, Dublin, have funded much of their children's education themselves.
But because of mounting debts, they can no longer afford to do so. Parent Daniel O'Mahony, whose son Aidan (8) is a pupil, said that a funding shortfall has grown to €100,000 over recent years and they have been left with no choice but to close.
Mr O'Mahony, a chartered accountant, said he had costed proposals that showed their model of providing ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) is more than 25pc cheaper than educating autistic children in special-needs schools.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
