Mar 11, 2025, Roller Coaster: Number of children diagnosed with autism increases threefold in less than 10 years
New figures from the Department of Education show that around one in 20 schoolchildren have received an autism diagnosis within the last decade.
Official stats now suggest that the autism prevalence rate has jumped from a rate of 1.5-1.6 per cent several years ago to five per cent now, meaning 400 new special classes and 200 new special school places need to be created to keep up with demand over the next three years.
It’s also expected that the need for such places and classes in second level schools is going to jump significantly, with the department estimating that around four special classes, typically with six students in each class, will be needed in every secondary.
Experts suggest that the rise in cases is down to awareness and extending the assessment boundaries for autism.
The news comes as tensions rise regarding the lack of appropriate school places for children with special needs, with one group of parents staging a sleepout outside the department last week.
According to The Irish Times, in 2024, around 8,000 kids were enrolled in special schools while 20,000 others were in special classes in mainstream schools.
Briefing notes for the Minister for Education Helen McEntee state ‘Since 2020, over 1,700 new special classes have been sanctioned and 11 special schools have been established.
‘For this school year, 409 classes, mainly autism classes, were established nationwide. Four special schools in counties Meath, Wexford, Kildare and Limerick also opened.’
Charlotte Cahill, who organised the recent sleepout outside the Department of Education after her daughter failed to get a place in school last September despite 32 applications, and has yet to recieve a place for this year with 22 rejections so far, is pleading with the government to address the issue.
Ahead of the protest, she appeared on Ireland AM, saying ‘I set up a WhatsApp group trying to find parents that are trying to find school places, just to help them, support them in any way that we could to try and get a meeting with the minister to see what we could do to help the situation.
‘Within two days, I now have 139 parents, each one of them with a child, some of them with two children, that don’t have school places.
‘The numbers are way higher than what they think they are. It’s like they’re away with the fairies, they really don’t.’
Kommentare