A mother from Ballinhassig, Co Cork, has appealed to the Minister for Education to address the issue of continuing education for severely and profoundly mentally handicapped children.
Ms Kathryn Sinnott's son, Jamie, who is profoundly autistic and mentally handicapped, entered full-time primary education for the first time in January 1996 when he was enrolled at St Paul's School, COPE, in Cork.
However, his mother has been told that Jamie has now completed his primary education.
Ms Sinnott said that under a High Court decision taken in 1993, and subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court, all severely and profoundly mentally handicapped children are entitled to education, irrespective of age.
Challenging the Minister to tackle the issue, Ms Sinnott said: "Last year, Micheal Martin stood with us outside the school, he stood with us outside the Supreme Court, he stood with us outside the Department of Education. I'm now asking him to address the issue."