Classes for children with autism at a school in Lucan, west Dublin, have been halted because of what parents say is a lack of support from the local health board and the Department of Education.
Ms Jane Jackson, whose sixyear-old son Eoin is in the class, said yesterday the classes would remain closed until adequate therapeutic services were put in place.
The classes, for 10 children with autism, take place at the Educate Together multidenominational national school. The rest of the school is continuing normally.
The Department of Health is responsible for the provision of therapeutic services, and the Department of Education provides accommodation and teachers.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the Minister had delivered on his commitments to the school in terms of staffing and accommodation. The provision of therapeutic services was the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children.
A spokesperson for the South Western Health Board said it had difficulty recruiting speech, language and occupational therapists because of a national shortage of personnel in this area. It had provided a grant to the school to engage someone on a private basis and that grant was still available.
The classes for children with autism began only a fortnight ago. From Monday all the children, aged between five and 10, will remain at home.
Ms Jackson said yesterday. "Parents are obviously concerned for their children but we support the board in their action . . . they have no other choice."
The Lucan case comes after a task force on autism reported how parents had to "shuttle" between various Government Departments to ensure their children received proper support.