Vol. 500 No. 4
250 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide the necessary resources to establish a neuro development clinic on a full-time basis in the Mid Western Health Board to respond to the needs of attention deficit disorder children. [4068/99]
I have provided funds of £110,000 to the Mid-Western Health Board in 1999 towards the establishment of a multi-disciplinary child and adolescent psychiatric team. This funding will be used to enhance child and adolescent psychiatric services and increase the capacity of community-based clinical psychology services. This follows on from the appointment of a second consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in the last quarter of 1998 and it is envisaged that this post holder will play a lead role in the continued development of the neuro-development clinic, which was established in October 1998. This clinic provides both an assessment and referral service for children and adolescents presenting with neurological and/or developmental problems including those who suffer from attention deficit disorder. The board proposes to review and develop, where appropriate, this service over the next six months.
