Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has highlighted the Government’s lack of priority for ADHD care.
Teachta Ward was speaking following the revelation that ADHD Ireland’s Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (UMAAP) has not received funding for 2024.
UMAAP plays a crucial role in providing support and guidance to adults across Ireland living with ADHD, offering invaluable resources and assistance.
Teachta Ward said:
“Government has made it clear that ADHD care is not a priority for them.
“I have received contact from ADHD Ireland that their very valuable programme, UMAAP, will not receive funding for 2024.
“This vital programme provides support and guidance to adults living with ADHD, assisting them and offering them helpful resources.
“This is a disappointing blow for the organisation and for the hundreds of thousands of adults living with ADHD in Ireland.
“I met with Ken Kilbride, CEO for ADHD Ireland back in August and he raised his concern that the organisation had not been contacted by the HSE to submit a pre-budget submission.
“I raised this via Parliamentary Question and the response I received from the HSE confirmed that no submission was requested but it was noted that increased funding was given for 2022 and 2023.
“The Budget was announced in October and only now are we getting some understanding of where money is being allocated, or more crucially, where it has been withdrawn from.
“This is disappointing but also not surprising. The National Clinical Programme for Adults with ADHD has also not received additional funding for 2 years in a row.
“Government lacks the ambition to fund programmes that deliver vital care for adults with ADHD.
“I have contacted the Minister to ask that he reconsider this decision.
“Sinn Féin would provide funding certainty for organisations like ADHD Ireland in the delivery of multi-annual budgets.
“This will allow organisations to long-term plan a spend more time delivering their services.
“Government cannot deliver certainty and this has to change. It is clear that we need a change of Government.”
CRÍOCH/ENDS
Note to editor:
Click here to view the PQ response in full.
