Parents alarmed as early intervention classes for autistic children quietly phased out

Social Democrat TD Liam Quaide: '“Presenting the quiet phasing-out of early intervention classes as inclusivity is not just misleading; it is deeply cynical.' Picture: Gareth Chaney

The Department of Education has been accused of ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ by quietly phasing out early intervention classes for pre-school autistic children to meet need elsewhere.

It comes as parents and schools have raised concerns over the recent repurposing of early intervention classes to autism primary school classes, without replacing them at the same rate.