Finian McGrath
Ceist:170 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if up to 85% of the juvenile prison population suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [8034/03]
Written Answers. - Juvenile Offenders.
A survey of the health status of prisoners was commissioned by my Department and conducted by the department of health promotion at NUI Galway in 1999. This survey entitled, General Healthcare Study of the Irish Prisoner Population, was published in July 2000. It found that only 4% of the prison population had ever had a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. This figure would indicate that the prevalence of this disease is relatively low compared to other illnesses within this group of people.
While ADHD is predominantly a condition affecting younger people, I am not aware of any evidence to support the suggestion in the Deputy's question.