Schools across south Dublin are to be forced to open special classes for children with autism.
The Irish Times reports around 80 children do not have a place ahead of the new school year.
The Department of Education is expected to publish a list of 39 schools in the area that will be ordered to make space for four and five-year-old's for the upcoming academic year.
It follows a campaign by parents who say they are being forced to travel long distances to access places in schools elsewhere, or avail of home tuition.
Many say they've been refused by dozens of schools in the district.
Miriam Kenny is chairperson of Involve Autism, a support group for parents in the area.
She says there are currently no classes for primary pupils with autism in Dublin 2, 4 or 6;
"It's not o.k for schools in certain areas not to set up classes and think it's o.k for our children to go to other areas because they're not willing to set up the classes."
She went on to say it's a contentious issue; "people will say we don't have the space, we can't do this, we can't do that, but they seem to be able to do it in other areas so why can't they do it in ours."
