Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley believes children moving to secondary level need more support.
Secondary schools in Laois are suffering from a "chronic shortage" of ASD units.
That's the claim being made by Laois Offaly Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley, who says, with an increasing population in the county, it needs the facilities for children with autism to match.
He claims a number of schools, such as Portlaoise College, Colaiste Íosagáin in Portarlington and Heywood Community School in Ballinakill need at least an additional two classes.
Deputy Stanley says transitioning to secondary school can be an anxious time for children: