Services in N Ireland ‘broken’

Autism services in Northern Ireland are “broken”.

That’s the view of Nuala McAllister, the Belfast North member of Northern Ireland’s legislative assembly.

Nuala McAllister MLA says autism services in Northern Ireland are “overwhelmed”

One in 16 has an autism diagnosis

McAllister made her comments as it emerged that one in 16 children, or more than 6 per cent, now have an autism diagnosis in Northern Ireland.

The figures come from the province’s Department of Health (DoH).

The DoH said 18,472 children had a diagnosis of autism in 2025/26.

Reports suggest this is 3,000 more schoolchildren than three years ago.

400 per cent rise in numbers

The prevalence of autism in Northern Ireland is more than 400 per cent higher than in 2010/11. However, the DoH has stressed that it collects data differently now.

McAllister said autism services in the province are “overwhelmed”. Some families were getting “little support” and others “nothing at all”.

She said there was a “postcode lottery” on the quality of autism services.

Challenging the health minister

McAllister, who represents the Alliance Party, said she is challenging health minister Mike Nesbitt over the need to cut autism waiting lists and support families “desperate” for help.

Ema Cubitt is Northern Ireland’s independent autism reviewer.

She told the BBC that autistic people have always been part of “every generation and every community”.

Cubitt said the new prevalence figures reflect “improving visibility, recognition and understanding within education systems”.

Pressure on services

In a statement, a spokesperson for the DoH said families seeking an autism diagnosis to get extra support in school “may increase pressure on services”.

There is a commitment within the province’s autism strategy 2023-2028 to provide early intervention and support, added the spokesperson.

The DoH is working to publish a new “needs-led” framework for emotional health and well-being to deliver on this commitment, said the spokesperson.

Related:

• N Ireland services fail ‘miserably’
• Expert slams N Ireland special education
• Education authority ‘breaks law’
• Families left waiting for SEN statement
• Northern Ireland funding ‘not enough’
• Commissioner slams support in N Ireland
• N Ireland schools ‘almost in crisis’
• Call for autism schools in N Ireland
• Radical N Ireland school plans blasted
• N Ireland pay hikes at top despite cuts
• Parents take action over N Ireland cuts
• Cuts hit ‘crucial help’ in N Ireland
• Parents defy dire services in N Ireland
• Huge increase in diagnosis in N Ireland

 

Published: 4 June 2026

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