Parents and educators have sounded the alarm over the repurposing of early intervention classes for pre-school children into autism classes in recent years. At least 25 early intervention classes open in 2020 have since been ‘redesignated’ as primary school autism classes. Since 2023, 11 early intervention classes have been closed or repurposed into autism classes. Early intervention classes reclassified as autism classesIn Cork, seven of the early intervention classes attached to primary schools that were open in 2020 have since been reclassified as autism classes. 'Alarming' re-designationBridgette Farrell, whose child attended an early intervention class, described the closure or repurposing of early intervention classes as “alarming”.

Source: Irish Examiner January 12, 2026 10:09 UTC