Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 5

Written Answers. - ADHD Services.

Jack Wall

Question:

221 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans his Department has to put in place a dedicated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder service in each health board area given that parents of sufferers of this disease are stating that there is no evidence that the additional allocation of £3 million has resulted in improved services to children and adolescents suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14563/00]

Jack Wall

Question:

222 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the stage of the work group that is examining attention deficit hyperactivity disorder within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.

A working group is currently being established by my Department to review child and adolescent psychiatry and to finalise a plan for the further development of this service. The organisation of services for the treatment of ADHD will be considered as part of this review. The membership of the working group is currently being finalised and it is expected to commence its work shortly.

The additional revenue of £3 million which has been provided for child and adolescent psychiatry since 1997 has been primarily for the development of consultant-led multidisciplinary teams. These teams comprise registrars in child and adolescent psychiatry, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and social workers. A number of consultant-led child and adolescent psychiatry teams approved have been established with an express ADHD input, including a team in the Mid-Western Health Board, two in the Southern Health Board and one in the Western Health Board.