(Ireland) Autism rate "could even be much greater" than 5 percent

April 22, 2025, Irish Star: One in twenty students at Cork school diagnosed as being on autism spectrum, councillor claims  

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/cork/news/one-in-twenty-students-at-cork-school-diagnosed-as-being-on-autism-spectrum-councillor-claims/a1858788519.html 

The news comes alongside revelations that parents now face a 30-month wait for assessments on average

A teacher in a major Cork City school says that one in 20 of the school’s children have been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, while an early-years educator says given the long waiting lists, the number that are also on the spectrum but haven’t yet been diagnosed could even be much greater.

The revelations of the rates of autism in Cork come as the city aims to continue its work in becoming an ‘Autism Friendly City’, at a time when parents of children with autism in the area face up to 30 months of a wait for an assessment for their child.

The statistic was revealed by Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn, who said he was shocked to hear the number of children currently in classrooms that have autism.

“I had the pleasure of going to a fundraiser recently for autism in the North Mon,” O’Flynn told the chamber during the meeting, adding: “I was more than surprised to find out, one of the teachers told me that, one in 20 children are now suffering from autism.

“This is a very difficult figure to understand, because so many children are affected. I was astounded, and I went to a meeting last week with parents who are concerned about school places for their children.

“I’m hoping that we’ll see a lot more from government in the weeks ahead, because it’s startling to find what’s wrong with our educational system who have additional needs and can’t get school places.”

However, early years educator and Labour councillor Ciara O’Connor says that the rates of autism could be far greater, due to the ever-increasing times in attaining an assessment for a child. . . .

 “We're failing these children at a time when timely help can change the entire course of their lives. The system must be reformed urgently, and I’m calling on the Minister to prioritise action now.”