'I have cried myself to sleep': Families of children with autism challenge school refusals

Three sets of Cork parents fear their children with autism will regress after being refused places in secondary school 

Parents Claire Madden, Mary Hickey, Tim Madden, and Aisling Henebry at their press conference on Lapps Quay, Cork, yesterday where they detailed the challenges they face, and vowed to appeal the refusal of secondary school places for their respective children.  Picture: Dan Linehan

Three sets of parents of children with autism said they fear their kids will regress after being refused school places in September despite a Government pledge to deliver more places in Cork.

They have pleaded with the education minister to intervene to secure a school place for their children, and they criticised the department for failing to plan for the timely delivery of enough senior special school places to meet demand.