Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again. I am conscious that Rebecca and her mam might be actually watching tonight so I will say it again. ADHD does not stop when you turn 18. In 2021, one of the first clinical programmes I launched was in respect of ADHD for adults and I have visited a number of the teams already. The teams are separate to the general adult mental health services. It is a separate team. As I said, the reason we were able to put the teams in place so quickly was because it only takes five to make up the team, whereas for a CAMHS team it can be between ten and 12, and for some reason we were able to recruit into these teams really quickly. Staffing was not an issue we had, which was really welcome. As I said, we have five full teams in place with two more being recruited at the moment in CHO 8 and CHO 7. Currently, there is none in CHO 2 Galway, Mayo, Roscommon; in CHO 5 Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny - my own area - or in CHO 9. There is a partial team in Cavan-Monaghan. We are currently looking at the €10 million spend. I have prioritised ADHD because I want to get this postcode lottery sorted and that there is a team in every single area. I would love one to go into my own area as well. I will give the Deputy a commitment and will come back to her. We are just finalising the details. There is going to be an expansion of another team and I want to set out exactly when we can see the teams for the other three areas. The commitment from the start was always to built it incrementally year on year. It is one of the areas in which we have a good story to tell. At the same time, I recommend that if the Deputy wants to pass me on the details, I can write to Rebecca and her mam. However, I would like them to engage with ADHD Ireland and maybe do that five-week online course while Rebecca is waiting for the specialist team. Her mam might be able to take part in it as well. It is very effective and works very well.

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