Safeguards must be put in place around the use of reduced timetables, which are a “daily reality for many vulnerable students” that disproportionately affect the most marginalized, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

A series of government cuts topping €1m may force a charity to slash services to adults and children with intellectual disability and autism.

Autism charity Shine’s chief executive has said three special needs children being taught in a windowless store room at a new €4.2m primary school “are being treated like second-class citizens”.

TUTORS and parents at some of the country’s 13 ABA schools for children with autism have raised concerns about Department of Education proposals to give them full special school status, describing it as “the death of ABA schooling in Ireland”.