Last week's High Court decision that free primary education should be provided to a 23-year-old autistic man will almost certainly influence the report of the task force on autism, which was set up in August by the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Michael Woods. "I am anxious to ensure that we make proper educational provision for children with autism," the Minister said, when he announced the establishment of the task force. However, he made no mention of the hundreds of autistic young adults who, over the years, have been denied the right to education.

According to Pat Matthews, executive director of the Irish Society for Autism, there are up to 1,200 autistic children aged between two and 18 years in the State. It was only in 1998 that the Department finally recognised autism as a special category. Before then, autistic children were regarded as severely emotionally disturbed. Special classes in primary schools throughout the State have been established to cater for up to 144 pupils. Some 31 teaching posts have been allocated to special schools to cater for pupils with autism.

Matthews estimates that the current system is only catering for between 200 and 300 autistic children. He warns that unless sufficient supports are put in place, including more trained teachers, psychological services, speech and language therapists and social supports for families, the classes will fail. Each year, he says, 25 to 30 young adults who need on-going specialised support will emerge from the system.

Matthews is critical of the Department for its tardiness in dealing with the issue of autism. He is even more critical of the health boards, which he says "are not moving at any speed at all". That is required, he says, is a national co-ordinator of autism services, to bring together the work of the health boards and the Department of Education and Science.

The autism task force, which meets for the first time this week, is required to report within three months. The task force will review and assess the adequacy of the current range of educational provision and support services for children with autism and recommend improvements.