(Ireland) Ed min: Despite doubling the number of SPED classes, 'So much more progress is required'

April 30, 2026, Minister agrees that more needs to be done for families struggling to get services for their autistic children

DISABILITIES Minister, Norma Foley has agreed that accessing services for families with autistic children are “an unfinished journey,” with work needed to take obstacles out of the way of getting a diagnosis and many other areas of need.

She said the Assessment of Needs (AON) service “is not working. It is not serving people.

We have recognised that…the Department of Education is working on a programme where a child will not need an AON to access a special class or a special school”. Minister Foley said “the legislation that is needed to change that system, we are working on that presently”.

“Working with the HSE, they are working on a system called Single Point of Access. Parents feel they have to fight for everything – they are on a multiplicity of lists, (for services). The HSE will introduce this single point of access where they arrive and they make an application at that single point then it is a matter for the HSE to follow up on all the different requirements..there will be only one door they will have to go through. The HSE say that will be operational this summer”.

Other areas Minister Foley said she is working on in tandem with the relevant departments are issues such as the lack of local authority housing for people with disabilities and issues are around the cost of disability. “There is a public consultation on at the moment to ensure that by the next budget there will be a specific cost of disability payment”.

The Minister was speaking with the Limerick Post after she officially opened the new a state-of-the-art Day service in Limerick city centre, which provides person-centred support for 21 individuals with disabilities. In collaboration with the HSE, RehabCare transitioned its Rockfield House service to a modern, accessible, city‑centre location at George’s Quay in Limerick.

The central location of the service enhances access to local agencies and further enables meaningful participation in community life, supporting the development of independent living skills. The enhanced space allows for a greater number of people to access the service and enables people to take part in a range of tailored programmes and activities on a one-to-one basis and in group settings.

Asked about the long delays for families who need a diagnosis so their child can access services and those families often having to find the money for a private diagnosis the Minister said, ‘Significant progress has been made but so much more progress is required…it’s an unfinished journey”.

The minister said that progress has been made in doubling the number of special classes and in training those who teach those classes. “We have between 40 and 50,000 professionals dedicated to the area of special education and we still have so much more to do”. . . .