Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

The country’s main autism charity Irish Autism Action, once fronted by Boyzone star Keith Duffy, did not write a budget for 2016.

Yvonne O’Toole, whose nine-year-old son Jake is autistic, began phoning Irish Autism Action (IAA) three years ago for help, but she has still to receive a call back.

The newly appointed chief executive of Irish Autism Action (IAA) says he is seeking to put to rest concerns voiced by service users after it cut an outreach service due to a lack of resources.

The cost of raising an autistic child is set to be assessed as part of a national survey by a researcher, who found the average annual cost to families is €6,600.

Rosanna Davison has been accused of giving arthritis sufferers false hope after she claimed gluten can be responsible for autism, schizophrenia, and arthritis.

One Direction superstar Niall Horan will caddie for Rory McIlroy at the Masters Par 3 competition which takes place today in Augusta.

Boyzone star, Keith Duffy today announced that he is stepping down as patron of Irish Autism Action to concentrate on his family and career.

Funny man Brendan O’Carroll was feeling a bit embarrassed about being named National Philanthropist of the Year by the Community Foundation for Ireland yesterday.

There was an increase of 10% in the number of children taking on extra tuition this summer under the July Provision scheme, according to figures from the Department of Education.

To paraphrase a well-known commercial, ‘every little hurts’.

Ten-year-old Connor O’Neill is utterly terrified of loud noise.

There is going to be a "blue hue" off Liberty Hall and the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre this evening.

John Joe Nevin believes his failure to finish school prevented him from winning an Olympic gold medal.

Keith Duffy, the actor and ex-Boyzone star, has opened a small memorial garden in West Cork to honour a young woman who worked tirelessly for autistic children even though she was terminally ill with leukaemia.

A new Autism Centre of Excellence has been announced in Westmeath.

The head of a leading autism support group has paid tribute to the remarkable legacy of a fearless teenage autism advocate who lost her battle with leukaemia.

Helen Fahey is taking the fight for her autistic son’s “lifeline” benefit to the Dáil this week.

Parents of autistic children are planning a national campaign to highlight the hardship families are facing due to refusals and reviews of a welfare payment called the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).

The publication of an article on autism in last Friday’s Feelgood supplement in this newspaper by Dr Tony Humphreys has caused an outpouring of hurt, anger and concern among readers, a selection of whose comments are published today.

IT IS an inspiring story of what can be achieved by human determination.

STAFF at a dozen schools for pupils with autism are being offered training to become primary teachers as part of a deal that will see the schools funded by the state.

AFTER 18 months of thinking about it, 12 months of planning and about six months of intense training, two Mullingar men have completed the challenge of a lifetime by running 32 marathons in 32 days.

Two Mullingar men have been raising awareness and money for the organisation Irish Autism Action by running 32 marathons across 32 counties in 32 days.

THE Psychological Society of Ireland has said it is greatly concerned by Department of Education plans to transform the country’s 13 ABA schools for children with autism into special schools using a range of different teaching methods.

THE Department of Education has written to the boards of management of 12 schools teaching children with autism offering to take over the long-term funding of their schools.

GRACE DOMICAN is 10 years old, has a severe form of autism, and struggles to communicate with other people.

A COALITION of agencies supporting people with disabilities have urged the Government to ring-fence funding for the area in the upcoming budget.

OVER 600 bottles of champagne, 14,600 bottles of beer and 6,500 bottles of spirits have been confiscated at Dublin airport as three years on, airline passengers still forget the 100ml liquid rule.

ACTOR and singer Keith Duffy has described cutbacks at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, in Dublin as shameful.

PARENTS at a school for children with autism are in dispute with Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe over what they claim is the exclusion of their school from talks for formal Government recognition.

All two-year-olds should be screened for autism to give children with the condition the best chance in life, it was claimed today.

There are just 1,000 more autistic children receiving educational support in the Republic of Ireland than in the North despite having around four times the population.

Politicians, teachers and health professionals from both sides of the border are to attend a special all-Ireland conference on autism today.

Events will be held across Ireland today to mark World Autism Day.

NINE out of 10 children with autism are not getting the specialist services they need to develop, according to a survey of primary school principals in schools catering for children with the condition.

THE Green Party has upped the pressure on Minister for Education Mary Hanafin after meeting parents embroiled in a battle with her over services for autistic children.

Several hundred people are expected to take part in a protest march in Dublin today calling for improvements in education for autistic children.

Several hundred parents and supporters have protested outside Leinster House over the Government's failure to properly fund applied behavioural analysis schools for autistic persons.