Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ward for raising this important issue. The answer I have was prepared by the Office of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, but ADHD comes under my remit, as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. Therefore, I will deal with it in two separate ways. I will speak first to the long-term illness scheme. Established in the 1970s, the scheme provides for the supply without charge of medicines and medical appliances to persons suffering from any of 16 prescribed conditions, including mental illness in a person under 16 years. That is the point the Senator raised and it is a fair one.

While there are no plans to extend the scope of this scheme, it is important to reflect that the long-term illness scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework. This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility and services in line with Sláintecare. Among these are the removal of public inpatient charges in public hospitals. We have also focused on reducing costs in primary care and have delivered one of the largest expansions of free GP care. The two GP access measures provide eligibility for approximately 500,000 additional people. Some 52% of people in the country have either a medical card or a doctor-only card.

People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines.We know that can be very difficult. We all know that from dealing with it in our constituency offices. Of course, the drug payment scheme threshold now stands at €80 per month. All of these measures work.

The point the Senator raises is very fair. I say that because 40% of all children who attend CAMHS have an ADHD diagnosis. I know that from speaking to the consultants and from the review of the audits we did over the last couple of years. We have 1.2 million children in the country aged under 18. Approximately 2.5% of those children attend CAMHS and, of those, 40% have ADHD. The medicines used in the treatment of ADHD are available under the long-term illness scheme and are also available to medical card holders and those eligible for the drugs payment scheme, subject to the payment of the statutory charge.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. When I came into this role, I discovered very quickly that there were no supports for adults with ADHD. I launched a clinical programme in 2021 which is really important. To date, starting from nowhere, we now have seven teams funded. Five are in place and two will be operational by the end of this year. Five more teams will roll out the full clinical programme across the country. I am hoping to do more in next year's budget and two more years will conclude it. It is really important that we do that.

Working with ADHD Ireland I secured recurrent funding for the understanding and management of adult ADHD programme called UMAAP. It is a six-week programme run by ADHD Ireland which has proven highly beneficial and effective for adults who have completed it. Before I leave this role, whenever that may be, I wanted to make sure that the funding for that was recurring. It will be available every year. The funding was stopped earlier this year but I reinstated it.

The Senator's point about those young people who are 17 or 18, who may be in college before they start working their way through life, is very valid and I will consider it further.