06-28-2006, 05:04 PM
The Department of Health spent over €2.7 million in 2005 defending High Court cases brought against the Government by relatives of autistic people, according to the Minister for State at the Department of Health, Deputy Tim O’Malley.
In response to a question by Dr Jerry Cowley (Ind-Mayo), the Minister said that since 2000, his department has been involved in about 140 cases in which parents are seeking access to appropriate education and in some cases, health services for their autistic children.
He said in 2005, €2,741,436 was spent on such legal costs, and €290,987 was spent on settlements.
Dr Cowley had asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Health, Deputy Mary Harney, the amount the Government is spending defending these cases “on account of the failure to provide adequate services for people with autism.”
The highest settlement of €438,450 was paid in 2002, according to Deputy O’Malley.
“These cases allege a failure on behalf of the State to provide for appropriate education as provided for in the Constitution,” said Deputy O’Malley. “While the cases are mainly taken by parents of children with autism, there are also a number of cases relating to ADHD, and intellectual and sensory disabilities.”
He said in the cases involving children with disabilities, the case also includes access to appropriate health related supports.
He said in a number of cases, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is named as co-defendant.
By Sandra Ryan from imt.ie
In response to a question by Dr Jerry Cowley (Ind-Mayo), the Minister said that since 2000, his department has been involved in about 140 cases in which parents are seeking access to appropriate education and in some cases, health services for their autistic children.
He said in 2005, €2,741,436 was spent on such legal costs, and €290,987 was spent on settlements.
Dr Cowley had asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Health, Deputy Mary Harney, the amount the Government is spending defending these cases “on account of the failure to provide adequate services for people with autism.”
The highest settlement of €438,450 was paid in 2002, according to Deputy O’Malley.
“These cases allege a failure on behalf of the State to provide for appropriate education as provided for in the Constitution,” said Deputy O’Malley. “While the cases are mainly taken by parents of children with autism, there are also a number of cases relating to ADHD, and intellectual and sensory disabilities.”
He said in the cases involving children with disabilities, the case also includes access to appropriate health related supports.
He said in a number of cases, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is named as co-defendant.
By Sandra Ryan from imt.ie