Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has welcomed the news that sanction will be forthcoming to fund existing places at the Barnacoyle preschool for autistic children run by St Catherine’s Special needs services at Killoughter, Ashford, Co Wicklow. The news of the decision to grant the funding was announced on the 5-7 Live programme on RTE Radio One on Tuesday evening following a protest outside Dail Eireann earlier that day. The Green Party councillor was one of a number of public representatives who attended the earlier protest by parents of Barnacoyle preschool children outside of the gates of Dail Eireann. The purpose of the protest was to highlight the failure of the Department of Education to give sanction for the nine places at the preschool for autistic children at Barnacoyle. “It was very moving hearing the testimony of parents whose children had made significant progress following their attendance at the preschool” says de Burca. “It is clear that early intervention is vital for the social, language and overall development of children who fall into the category of ‘autism spectrum disorder’ says de Burca. “What is hard to understand is why it has taken so long for the Department to recognise and fund the important work being carried out by the preschool at Barnacoyle/ This is certainly a great day for St Catherine’s, for the parents of Barnacoyle and for County Wicklow”.

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Press Release by Deirdre