The Equality Authority reported a settlement between two children and the Department of Education and Science in relation to the provision of a summer programme for children with disabilities. One of those children was Niamh Farrell.
Niamh has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which means that her speech is limited. She also has asthma and epilepsy. She has attended a special school run by Enable Ireland (formerly the CPI) since she was four.
According to her father, Noel Farrell, due to her communication difficulties she was thought to have an intellectual disability, but she does not. "It makes communication difficult for those that do not know her," he said. "But if you know where she's coming from you're sound." She greatly enjoyed school and the social interaction it brought. But this meant she found the long summer holidays very hard. "Ordinary kids can go to the park, or go swimming. Disabled kids can't. It's very difficult for them and their families."
He said the principal of the Enable Ireland special school knew of a July project for children with intellectual disabilities, and suggested that Mr Farrell should contact the Department of Education and Science about such a project for Niamh.
The department said it only had resources for services for children on the autistic spectrum and with severe learning disabilities.
"The department said she didn't fit into the category. Eventually we wrote to the Equality Authority and they said they thought we had a case.
They took it, and the department arranged a July programme for her and the other children. It was an incredible success," said Noel.