Rise in number of schoolchildren diagnosed with autism will cost taxpayers an extra €183 million over the next 3 years.

 Over 4,000 extra special needs assistant teachers will be needed by 2019 “to cover increasing demand in mainstream and special needs schools”.

The Government Economic and Evaluation Service has also warned that these figures are likely to increase as the rates of autism diagnoses go up.

The agency forecast that between 1,400 and 4,500 extra SNA would be needed by 2019, in combination to the 12,900 already working in primary and secondary schools. This currently costs €425 million a year, a figure that is likely to increase a minimum of €53 million a year.

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/autistic-pupils-need-4-500-extra-teachers-l7x9svb2t