Department's rigidity over children criticised [IrishTimes]
- Published: 16 August 2011
THE “INFLEXIBILITY” of the Department of Education’s policies when dealing with children and families has been criticised by Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan.
Ms Logan was addressing the Parnell Summer School in Co Wicklow yesterday on the theme of children and equality.
The department set policies and rules and “expect children and families to fit into this nice list of rules”, she said. “If you don’t fit in you might not be entitled to the additional assistance that you need.”
One case involved a child who needed to use a computer due to losing dexterity but who did not fit a specific medical diagnosis on the department’s list and was told he was not entitled to any assistance, she said. “That’s the kind of barriers children and families are up against.”
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