Address by Frank Fahey T.D., Minister for Labour Affairs At the Launch of the Irish National Council of AD/HD Support Groups (INCADDS) Strategic Plan

in Department of Human Rights, N.U.I.G

on Wednesday 23^rd April 2003

I am pleased to be here today to launch the Irish National Council of AD/HD Support Groups Strategic Plan (INCADDS) and I would like to thank the council for the invitation to do so. I would also like to congratulate the organisation for all the work that it has put into the plan. I understand that the council is an umbrella organisation for AD/HD support groups throughout the country and that these support groups provide services such as information, advice and emotional support to the families of children with AD/HD.

ADHD/HKD is an internationally recognised condition. The combination of inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviour in children is recognised as a disorder when these behaviours are severe, developmentally inappropriate and impair functioning at home or at school. It is a complicated and variable condition with many different presentations. There is no blood or x-ray type test available to confirm a diagnosis. Assessment therefore means considering whether there are alternative causes of inattentive, impulsive and/or restless behaviour.

The development of services for the management and treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) was considered by the Working Group on Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services established by the Department of Health and Children in June 2000.

All aspects of the presentation, diagnosis, treatment and management of children suffering from ADD/ADHD were considered by the Working Group in the course of its deliberations. The Working Group presented its report in March 2001 and in the report the different components of treatment required were set out and the importance of adequate linkages with other services, such as the education services and the community health services, were emphasised.

The Working Group also stated in its report that the prevalence of ADD/ADHD in Ireland can be estimated at somewhere between 1% and 5% of school age children (i.e. aged 5 - 15 years), which is in line with the research findings in other European countries.

The Working Group recommended the enhancement and expansion of the overall child and adolescent psychiatric service as the most effective means of providing the required service for children with this condition. The Group found that the internationally acknowledged best practice for the provision of child and adolescent psychiatric services is through the multi-disciplinary team.

The development of child and adolescent psychiatric services has been a priority in recent years. In 2002, additional revenue funding of ?6.061m (£4.773) was allocated by the Department of Health and Children to provide for the appointment of additional consultants, for the enhancement of existing consultant-led multi-disciplinary teams. A further ?1.64m was allocated in 2003.

The Report also contains recommendations on the development of Child (6-12) and Adolescent (12-16) Psychiatric Inpatient Units. The Working Group also recommended that a total of seven child and adolescent in-patient psychiatric units for children ranging from 6-16 years should be developed throughout the country. Project teams have been established in respect of the proposed units in Cork, Limerick, Galway and one in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area - at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview.

The National Health Strategy, "Quality and Fairness - A Health System for You" published by the Department of Health and Children in 2002, includes a commitment to the implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group's Report.

The National Health Strategy also includes a commitment to prepare a new National Policy Framework for the further modernisation of mental health services, updating the 1984 policy document, Planning for the Future. All areas of mental health policy and service provision including psychiatric services for children and adolescents will be examined in the course of this work and all interested parties will be consulted. Work on the framework is expected to commence in the next few months.

Priority is being given to education awareness and to promoting a better understanding among the public towards mental health. There is a growing awareness and concern among the community about mental health matters and the National Health Promotion Strategy, 2000-2005 in conjunction with the National Health Strategy see mental health as being equally as important as physical health in the overall wellbeing of a person. Increasingly, mental health is being recognised as a major challenge facing health services in the twenty first century and the Department of Health and Children recognises the need for positive mental health promotion.

At this stage I'd like to emphasise the importance of voluntary organisations in supporting and promoting positive mental health among the population. An occasion such as this enables us to pause and reflect on the selfless volunteers who have given so willingly and thoughtfully of their time, and to praise and compliment their commitment and dedication. I wish to pay tribute to all those involved in voluntary work - to applaud the invaluable work which is being carried out throughout the country by the many voluntary agencies whose work brings about so many benefits to the community as a whole.

I would like to re-emphasise the Government's commitment to encourage, in any way it can, the activities of our many voluntary organisations both at national and local level. In today's busy world the recruitment of volunteers presents a major challenge to all voluntary organisations as people have so many demands on their time. It is important that the public be made aware of the immense work done by voluntary organisations.

The Irish National Council of AD/HD Support Groups has helped many families that have been affected by AD/HD and I would like to like to again congratulate them on the launch of their strategic plan.