The number of children born with disabilities in Ireland will fall by 2030, as women have fewer children.
That’s according to research from the ESRI and Pobal, which shows the number of children with additional needs engaging in a pre-school support programme has "increased rapidly" since its introduction in 2016.
The number of children born with disabilities was above the national average in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Laois, Limerick, Offaly, Tipperary, and Westmeath.
Research from the ESRI and Pobal found the number of children engaging in the AIM programme, which supports pre-schoolers with special needs, varies from county to county.
Co-Author of the report Professor Seamus McGuiness says that reflects the trend nationwide:
Given the level of population we see higher than expected childhood disability rates in areas such as Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Laois and Tipperary.
"And slightly lower than expected levels given the population distribution in counties such as Clare and Leitrim."
Meanwhile the Disability Federation of Ireland is using the International Day of People with Disabilities to call on the government to publish its report on the Cost of Disablilty - which was first announced in 2018.
CEO John Dolan says many people are struggling:
"Poverty and lack of income are ongoing chronic issues for people with disabilities.
There are extra costs that are there at every turn and every day."
A number of buildings across the country will light up purple tonight, to mark the day.
