ADHD care not priority for Government says Ward

Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward said that ADHD care is not a priority for the current Government.

The Dublin Mid-West TD was speaking following the announcement that ADHD Ireland’s Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (UMAAP) has not received funding for 2024.

For people with ADHD, UMAAP plays a crucial role in providing support and guidance to adults across Ireland living with ADHD, offering resources and assistance.

Ward said that  “Government has made it clear that ADHD care is not a priority for them,” saying that he found out from ADHD Ireland that programme will not receive funding for 2024.

He said the funding lapse is a “disappointing blow” for the organisation and for the hundreds of thousands of adults living with ADHD in Ireland.

Following a meeting between Ward with Ken Kilbride, CEO for ADHD Ireland in August 2023, Kilbride raised concern that the organisation had not been contacted by the HSE to submit a prebudget submission.

“I raised this as a 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and only now are we getting some understanding of where money Is being allocated, or more crucially, where it has been withdrawn from.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.”

Ward commented that “Government lacks the ambition to fund programmes that deliver vital care for adults with ADHD.”

“Sinn Féin would provide funding certainty for organizations like ADHD Ireland in the delivery of multiannual budgets; this will allow organisations to long-term plan and 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.”