The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, has said it is "entirely unacceptable" for parents of special needs children to go to the courts to get educational facilities for them.
In answer to a parliamentary question from Mr Billy Timmins TD, Dr Woods said it was unacceptable for any parent, especially a parent of a child with special needs, to "resort to litigation to secure their child's educational entitlements".
Dr Woods's comments are likely to anger parents of special needs children, who have been heavily lobbying the Government since the Supreme Court judgment in the case of an autistic man, Mr Jamie Sinnott, and his mother Kathryn.
Ms Sinnott said last night Dr Woods's comments were "unacceptable".
"The reason parents have been resorting to the courts is that it is the only route open to them.
"Even with all the Minister's announcements parents are still being forced to take litigation against his Department," she said.
Dr Woods said initiatives taken by him would remove the need for parents to take legal action.
He disclosed that 10 cases were currently before the High Court which related to people over 18 years looking for their educational entitlements. Those involved suffer from a variety of special needs, said Dr Woods, including autism.
He said that while the Government had presided over an "unprecedented level of development in special education services", there was "much work to be done".