A WOMAN HAS chained herself to the gates of the Department of Education in protest against the services being provided for her son who has autism.

Debbie Byrne has said that a decision by the Department has resulted in her son Aaron being moved to a school 30 miles away from her home to a facility that does not meet his needs.

Three-year-old Aaron has physical and anxiety issues which make it difficult for him to enter a non-specialised school environment.

Byrne has said that the provision of the home tuition grant would have allowed her son to continue at his current school which is located just a mile and a half from his home.

His current school is run by Jonix which provides specialist educational services at a number of locations around the country, with each classroom consisting of a maximum of six children.

Aaron Byrne Justice for Aaron Justice for Aaron

In response to Debbie Byrne’s action, the Department of Education has stated that it received the application for home tuition this morning and that it was incomplete. 

It went on to state:

However, the application will be considered as expeditiously as possible and if further information is required to complete this consideration the parents will be contacted.

The department has stated that a decision on the application will be made early next week.

Speaking on Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show earlier today, Byrne said that her son had been unable to walk when he started with Jonix Educational Services, and overtime had developed to a level where he was able to communicate.

“The whole thing with him was that he learned how to express himself,” she said.

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