Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Changing Lives Initiative is a community-based, cross-Border project creating a better understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, and providing an intervention programme for families with children between three and seven years of age experiencing behaviours consistent with ADHD. Since 2023, it has been available in Louth and Meath, and I know there are further plans. We need to make sure the funding is available to expand this pilot. The real benefit of this project is the fact that kids do not need a diagnosis to participate and it has been shown to have a hugely positive impact on the children and those families. I know that myself from families I have spoken to. I needed to bring this up on the basis that, at the moment, in the audiovisual room, there is a presentation ongoing from the Changing Lives Initiative, and my wife, Annemarie, is one of those people who are presenting, so I think I have my job done. This is one of the vital interventions that are required, and I ask that we look at this and at expanding this pilot so it can provide some interventions for kids and families across Ireland.

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