The State has agreed to pay damages of €120,000 and provide new plans for the education of Lewis O'Carolan (15), an autistic boy with severe behavioural problems, writes Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent.
The development in the High Court yesterday marks a significant step forward for the O'Carolan family, which has been fighting a legal battle for almost three years to secure appropriate education for Lewis.
The new proposals, due to begin within three weeks, involve in-home tuition, respite, a special care worker and a more long-term residential placement. The boy's mother, Annette O'Carolan, said she was happy with the proposals but expressed concern about the implementation of the plan.
"It's the first concrete acknowledgment of a specific service that's required for Lewis," she said. "But I feel sad that Lewis has lost so much. He hasn't got proper education for four years, which is a basic human right.
"All we wanted was to see our child have a dignified life. We're aware that there are lots of other children out there in the same situation."
About €20,000 will go towards repairing the O'Carolans' house in Phibsboro, Dublin, which has been badly damaged as a result of the 15-year-old's behavioural problems. The remainder will be for the boy's needs.
Lewis was taken out of a special school at the age of 12 by his parents after his behaviour deteriorated and has spent almost four years at home without education or therapies.
Under the education plans, he will receive applied behaviour analysis, an intensive but expensive form of education which his parents had been seeking for their son.