Bray, New Ross and Tralee are among 11 new towns to given autism-friendly status.
The first town in Ireland to be certified as autism-friendly was Clonakilty in Cork last year and now Clane, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow Town, New Ross, Skerries, Lucan, Castlebar, Mallow, Listowel and Tralee will also be recognised.
It's part of a initiative by AsIAm, Ireland's national autism charity and advocacy organisation in partnership with Supervalu.
SuperValu and AsIAM work with communities to build infrastructure and support to make their town more inclusive and ultimately autism friendly.
Part of the journey to accreditation sees businesses and organizations in communities take measures to reduce sensory simulation that could cause distress and difficulties and undertake staff training to improve understanding of autism.
Research carried out by AsIAM to coincide with the announcement found that a whopping 82 percent of people believe that most businesses or organizations in their community do not provide the necessary tools to help them participate.
However, 62 percent said they had shopped in an autism-friendly store.
Almost 80 percent of respondents believe that most businesses or organizations in their community do not provide a supportive sensory environment which meets their needs.
And 88 percent say that if a community was officially autism-friendly it would make them more likely to visit there.
