Autism

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Reducing assessment of need waiting lists 'will not happen overnight', warns minister
Reducing assessment of need waiting lists 'will not happen overnight', warns minister
Cabinet today sanctioned the formation of 11 new expert teams, and a new HSE autism pathway is due to enter operation in February.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Cara Darmody: What use is a recruitment campaign nobody knows about?
Cara Darmody: What use is a recruitment campaign nobody knows about?
The Government's inaction on assessments of needs is shameful. Promises have been made, but they are already being broken, writes Cara Darmody 

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Autism spectrum disorder ASD written on a paper.
Government yet to make substantial progress on autism recommendations
There are still aspects of life for autistic people where problems remain, a new report has said

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Ofsted inspection report
Children facing 'wall of indefinite waiting' for therapies, warns Inclusion Ireland
The number of assessments of need has increased by 54%, but the most pressing issue for families is the "subsequent failure" to deliver services, the group stated.

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Donald Trump paracetamol autism link claims
Evidence ‘does not show clear link between paracetamol, autism and ADHD’
Researchers trawled all studies on the issue and concluded they were low quality, with “low to critically low” confidence in any findings suggesting a link

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Parents take children to school. Crowd of happy students walk with family. Mother, father and kids with bags go back to school v
Special education: Number of early intervention classes falls in some counties
New data shows that 18 counties have either seen a reduction or no increase in the number of such classes since 2023

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

DĂĄil told of 'clear school culture' of suspensions at Cork special school
DĂĄil told of 'clear school culture' of suspensions at Cork special school
Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide told the Dåil the cultural issues within the school are 'clearly at odds with the rights of children'

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Autistic girl has three different teachers in a month at Cork special school with suspensions 'crisis'
Autistic girl has three different teachers in a month at Cork special school with suspensions 'crisis'
The girl's mother said: 'I feel now she’s gone very into herself again, a lot of anxiety, a lot of upset, which then is leading to the challenging behaviours.'

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Cork special school planned to cut student days amid ‘critical’ staffing crisis
Cork special school planned to cut student days amid ‘critical’ staffing crisis
St Gabriel’s Special School in Bishopstown says an SNA shortage has created unsafe conditions

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

flu medicine at DrugSmart pharmacy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., on Monday Feb. 1, 2016.
ieExplains: Is Tylenol the same as paracetamol and does it have links to autism?
US president’s claims around painkiller also known as Tylenol contradict scientific consensus

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Donald Trump
Experts slam Trump's 'false and dangerous' claims linking paracetamol in pregnancy to autism
Irish doctors, autism advocates and EU regulators unite to reject Donald Trump’s unfounded claim linking paracetamol to autism

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Donald Trump
Trump attacks paracetamol as officials unveil highly contentious conclusions on autism
US president Donald Trump says acetaminophen – also known as paracetamol - increases risk when taken by pregnant women, assertion contradicted by research

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Little 7 years schoolboy going to school.
Suspensions ‘crisis’ at flagship special school in Cork 
One parent says Carrigaline Community Special School — for children from 4 to 18 with a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability — handed out suspensions 'like confetti'

Sun, 21 Sep, 2025

Outrage as Danny Healy-Rae links autism to ‘lack of vitamins’ in Dáil debate
Outrage as Danny Healy-Rae links autism to ‘lack of vitamins’ in Dáil debate
Autistic advocate and parents have condemned Danny Healy-Rae’s Dáil remarks suggesting autism may be caused by vitamin deficiency

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

HSE to hire more dentists after 'unacceptable' delay in care for autistic boy in Waterford
HSE to hire more dentists after 'unacceptable' delay in care for autistic boy in Waterford
Tiernan Power Murphy, aged 7, was told of a 10-year wait for specialist dental care as he needs to go under general anaesthetic

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Autism group in Cork forced to stop accepting new members due to lack of space
Autism group in Cork forced to stop accepting new members due to lack of space
Cork’s Rainbow Club's staff and volunteers will now concentrate on their existing 1,352 members, who will not be affected by the decision

Sat, 30 Aug, 2025

SEND support
‘One in four parents view education system as inclusive for autistic pupils’
Only one in four parents and just over a third of teachers view the Irish education system as inclusive for autistic pupils, research suggests.

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Autistic Waterford boy ‘in great form’ after delayed dental appointment but many more still waiting
Autistic Waterford boy ‘in great form’ after delayed dental appointment but many more still waiting
Taoiseach intervened after family told the 'Irish Examiner' earlier this year about the 10-year wait for treatment the boy faced

Sun, 17 Aug, 2025

'I can be around people and feel like I am alone': Autistic adults report feeling lonely and isolated
'I can be around people and feel like I am alone': Autistic adults report feeling lonely and isolated
Survey for charity AsIAm found just over half feel lonely all or most of the time, with 69% saying they feel 'left out of society'

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

Parents in Youghal campaign for new type of school for autistic children
Parents in Youghal campaign for new type of school for autistic children
Bridging the Gap Youghal estimates there are almost 100 pupils attending autism classes in primary schools across the East Cork and West Waterford region 

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Boy playing with the interactive board
Oireachtas Committee hears of autistic boy offered psychology appointment in Cork in 2030
The National Disability Authority's head of policy Dr Rosalyn Tamming a review of staffing is needed ahead of the HSE's introduction of a single point of entry referrals by October

Wed, 25 Jun, 2025

Autism therapy
Parents panic after new autism classes delayed: 'I have nothing to fall back on'
Corpus Christi National School in Dublin is due to enrol 12 students following plans to convert existing parish hall

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Disability activist Cara Darmody claims law being broken as children 'left to rot' on waiting lists
Disability activist Cara Darmody claims law being broken as children 'left to rot' on waiting lists
A schoolgirl who has held protests outside the DĂĄil for better autism services has claimed the Government is "blatantly" breaking the law and "permanently damaging children".

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025

Rosie O'Donnell to perform in two back-to-back comedy shows in Dublin ahead of 3Olympia gig
Rosie O'Donnell to perform in two back-to-back comedy shows in Dublin ahead of 3Olympia gig
US comedian and activist to support autism charity AsIAm with special appearances at Dublin’s Sin É this June.

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Sinn FĂ©in: Changes to legislation for assessments of need would 'reward State failure'
Sinn FĂ©in: Changes to legislation for assessments of need would 'reward State failure'
MicheĂĄl Martin told the DĂĄil he believes legislative change is needed to enable therapists to provide service to children more quickly

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Assessment of needs system backlog
Cara Darmody begins 50-hour protest to highlight disability assessment delays
The Tipperary teenager protests at Leinster House, demanding action as disability assessment delays near 25,000 cases

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Government can't treat 'abandoned' children on assessment list like political football, say TDs
Government can't treat 'abandoned' children on assessment list like political football, say TDs
There are currently more than 15,000 children whose assessment of need is overdue, meaning they cannot access vital health services for their conditions

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Assessments of need waiting list
Disability Act 'systemically broken' by assessment of need delays, says autism campaigner
In response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Alan Kelly, the HSE said demand for the assessments continues to outstrip system capacity

Mon, 19 May, 2025

Cara's fund: Government 'must clear backlog of assessments for children with disabilities'
Cara's fund: Government 'must clear backlog of assessments for children with disabilities'
Sinn FĂ©in, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Independent Ireland demand urgent funding to clear AON backlog to coincide with Cara Dermody's vigil

Thu, 15 May, 2025

School stock
Autism charity welcomes moves to tackle special class policies which block children with greatest needs
Charity AsIAm said report by the Department of Education’s Inspectorate confirmed school admission policies 'disproportionately affect autistic students with higher levels of support needs'

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Cara Darmody
Tipp schoolgirl Cara Darmody to mount 50-hour protest outside the DĂĄil for better autism services
Cara Darmody, who has two brothers with severe autism, plans to hold the protest outside the DĂĄil over two days from 10am on May 20

Wed, 16 Apr, 2025

Boy, 13, awarded €1.8m interim payment over circumstances of his birth at Tipperary hospital
Boy, 13, awarded €1.8m interim payment over circumstances of his birth at Tipperary hospital
The case will come back before the courts in 2032 when the future care needs of the boy, who has autism, will be decided

Thu, 10 Apr, 2025

Alpaca therapeutic service for care home, in Ireland
'The impact is really positive': Irish farmer brings alpaca therapy to nursing homes and schools
A decade after ditching his office job for farming, 64-year-old 'Alpaca Joe' has found a new job for his herd of 71 woolly South American camelids: animal therapy for the elderly and people with additional needs

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Department provides new special school in Cork with temporary plot until permanent site ready
Department provides new special school in Cork with temporary plot until permanent site ready
Capacity at other existing special schools is also being 'significantly' increased for the 2025/26 school year to accommodate children who have yet to receive an offer of a school place

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Cork parents start campaign for new school to bridge education gap for autistic students
Cork parents start campaign for new school to bridge education gap for autistic students
Parents have called for a school to implement the traditional Junior Cycle programme, as well as Level 2 Learning Programmes , which are designed to develop essential life, social and vocational skills for students with additional learning needs

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Lack of school places: 'We were promised the moon and stars – we got stress and struggle'
Lack of school places: 'We were promised the moon and stars – we got stress and struggle'
Cork families are protesting a broken special education system, highlighting a lack of school places, therapies, and essential support

Sat, 08 Mar, 2025

Why a €200k donation is doing what the Government won’t for Cork’s most vulnerable children
Why a €200k donation is doing what the Government won’t for Cork’s most vulnerable children
A Cork special school received a €200K donation to fund vital therapy services, highlighting Ireland’s failing disability support system

Sat, 08 Mar, 2025

PARENTS PROTEST
Special needs: 'Every day I'm fighting for my child to get a school place'
JESS CASEY talked with parents at their wits' end trying to find school places for their children — including one mother from Cork who has been fighting for six years

Fri, 07 Mar, 2025

'How do I explain to my son when he sees his brother going to school that he can’t go?'
'How do I explain to my son when he sees his brother going to school that he can’t go?'
Special education: Ahead of their protest rally in Cork on Saturday, parents speak out about the heartbreak of trying to find a school place for their children

Fri, 07 Mar, 2025

'Patrick is asking where he’s going to big school... I have no answer for him'
'Patrick is asking where he’s going to big school... I have no answer for him'
Sheila Casey Jones had already been considering moving to a different county after receiving 29 rejections for a special class placement

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Mick Clifford: Law demands equal treatment for all children. Results have been pretty poor
Mick Clifford: Law demands equal treatment for all children. Results have been pretty poor
Michael Moynihan is not the first minister to say schools will be compelled to open special classes. They've had that power for five years now. So why hasn't it happened?

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Classroom with empty wooden desks
Department to use legislative powers to open more special classes for next school year
So far, approximately 220 new special classes are confirmed to open this September. Officials are working to open up to 400 classes

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Renewed hospital contract could see dental waiting times decline in South-East region
Renewed hospital contract could see dental waiting times decline in South-East region
A spokesman for the HSE Dublin South East health region said “a small proportion” of children need general anaesthetic for dental treatment, and this is only safely provided in hospitals

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

School protest
Sleep-out planned over lack of special school places
This week, the Dåil heard that more than 14,200 children are overdue an assessment of need that  advises parents on the appropriate school placement for their child

Fri, 28 Feb, 2025

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