Ms Patricia Griffin:

The Ombudsman said there was inequity in the way the system is being managed and that it was to the detriment of children with Down's syndrome. That was practically the same thing. It was to do with the general allocation model. The Ombudsman said that the present allocations have impacted on the fullest educational inclusion of our children and that this has resulted in a potential loss of opportunity for children with Down's syndrome. The report also stated that children with Down's syndrome had been adversely affected and we have always reiterated that point to the Department in any meetings we have had with it or the Minister.

It also upholds the view of Down Syndrome Ireland that Down's syndrome should be reclassified as a low-incidence disability and that children with Down's syndrome should have the necessary educational resources allocated to them.