Vol. 563 No. 4
484 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Gheel Centre, Griffith Court, Dublin 3, is selling off part of its land to private developers; and his views on whether this is in the interests of their people with intellectual disabilities. [8092/03]
Responsibility for the provision of services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism in the Dublin region lies with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.
485 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a copy of the recent strategy plan of the Irish National Council of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Support Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8143/03]
503 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason he or any of the Ministers of State at his Department were unable to accept an invitation from the Irish National Council of ADHD Support Groups to launch their strategy plan for dealing with ADHD disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8295/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 503 together.
486 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures his Department intends to take to address the needs of children, teens and young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [8144/03]
The development of services for the management and treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADD-ADHD, was considered by the working group on child and adolescent psychiatric services established by my Department in June 2000. In its report of March 2001, the working group stated that the prevalence of ADD-DHD in Ireland can be estimated at somewhere between 1% and 5% of school age children, those aged 5-15 years, which is in line with the research findings in other European countries.
The working group found that the internationally acknowledged best practice for the provision of child and adolescent psychiatric services is through the multi-disciplinary team. In 2002, additional revenue funding of €6.061 million was allocated to provide for the appointment of additional consultants, for the enhancement of existing consultant-led multi-disciplinary teams and towards the establishment of further teams. A further €1.64 million was allocated in 2003. The health strategy Quality and Fairness contains a commitment to the implementation of the recommendations of the working group's report.
