A Health Service Executive report says a national unified standard for autism care is being introduced to replace what they described as a previous system that varied from "robust" to "patchy and ineffective".
Launching the "National Review of Autism Services Past, Present and Way Forward", the HSE said there would be a "better integration of services available to children with autism".
They said this would include earlier assessment at primary school level and earlier intervention by specialist care services where required.
The HSE stated education services formed a separate element of care, and this was being assessed by the Department of Education.
