The Department of Education WAS justified in engaging a barrister from the United Kingdom, in the ongoing dispute with parents over the Special Needs Unit at Jurby School.

So says the Chief Minister Donald Gelling who was taken to task over the issue in Tynwald today by Michael MHK David Cannan.

Parents are fighting to keep the Jurby Special Needs Unit open.

Mr Cannan claimed public money had been diverted from education to appoint what he called 'expensive lawyers' from the UK to fight court battles with distressed parents.

But Mr Gelling told him no money has been diverted from the education budget - and the Department needed a specialist lawyer due to the risk of litigation: