A local senator has raised the concerns of parents of children with ASD in Monaghan town in the Seanad this week during an exchange with Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Thomas Byrne.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in 160 children has ASD, but some studies have reported a figure as high as one in 59.
According to Senator Gallagher, the number of children being diagnosed with autism is continuing to rise which is a "worrying development" and a statement that poses many questions.
Speaking to Northern Sound, the local representative said he "acknowledges" the growth in the number of special and early intervention classes for children with autism that are attached to special and mainstream schools.
Despite this, he said that local parents are concerned as to how the development of ASD units across Monaghan under the supervision of the NCSE has led to the largest town in the county, having no ASD unit.
"Quite a number of parents from Monaghan town are transporting their children to different parts of the county in order to access special needs provision for their children," he explained.
"They ask genuinely asking whether there should be more places available in Monaghan town where the families themselves reside. I welcome the fact that the NCSE and the Department wrote to all schools asking them to come forward with projected numbers in that regard.
"I look forward to a situation arising where more places are available for parents and their children in Monaghan town so that families will not have to get their children up early in the morning and travel miles to school. It is important that they can do that as close to their locality as possible. I look forward to developments going forward."
