06-05-2025
New adult ADHD team for Waterford and south east announced
Health Minister Mary Butler TD also confirmed the commencement of recruitment for the multidisciplinary team.
The new adult ADHD team will service the integrated healthcare areas (IHAs) of Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, and south Tipperary. The team will be multidisciplinary, with a consultant, psychologist, occupational therapist, clinical nurse specialist and administrative support.
Recruitment is underway with the team expected to become operational later this year. The team will work with adults with ADHD to assess and manage their ADHD, providing person-centred and responsive supports.
Ms Butler said: 'Prior to the inception of the National Clinical Programme (NCP) for Adults with ADHD which I launched as minister in 2021, there were no specific ADHD public services available for adults in Ireland.
'The National Clinical Programme for Adult ADHD is now being implemented across the country by multidisciplinary teams on a phased basis, with seven teams already operational. In Budget 2025, I secured the funding to complete the roll out of the programme and bring ADHD teams to all areas of the country, including the south east.
'The Adult ADHD team will be based at St Johns Primary Care Centre in Waterford, and will be a really significant new service for adults with ADHD living in the region.'
Separately, progress is underway to establish a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east. Ms Butler met with Waterford Comhairle na nÓg members in Government Buildings to update them on the status of the project.
The Waterford TD has reiterated her intention to secure a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east at a meeting with members of the Waterford Comhairle na nÓg this week.
Ms Butler invited the delegation from Comhairle na nÓg to her office in Government Buildings last week where she confirmed her office had received a formal proposal from Jigsaw in recent weeks to establish a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east.
In addition, the minister confirmed she has invited proposals from other relevant organisations including Mental Health Ireland, the NGO behind the Mindspace youth mental health service in Mayo.
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The minister also shared with the Comhairle na nÓg members that work to secure a suitable premises for a youth mental health service had begun with the chief executive of Waterford City and County Council. Ms Butler has shared her intentions to establish the service with the HSE IHA manager for Waterford and Wexford, Dr Sinead Reynolds.
Ms Butler said she intends to secure the funding for a youth mental health service for the south east in the upcoming budget estimates process for 2026.
'I am determined to establish a youth mental health service for the young people of Waterford and the south east,' she said. 'I believe every young person should have access to an early intervention service for mild and moderate mental health issues.
'I commend the members of Waterford Comhairle na nÓg for their advocacy and support for this project and I am very grateful to them for meeting with me this week where I was able to hear directly from them about the issues facing young people in Waterford, particularly in relation to school stress and bullying.
'I have received a proposal from Jigsaw, and I have also met with Mental Health Ireland to hear more about their model of service provided by the Mindspace youth mental health service in Mayo.
'I have also spoken to the new chief executive of Waterford City and County Council to explore securing a suitable premises for the proposed new service.
'I am evaluating all of the options available to me as minister in how best to provide a youth mental health service for Waterford, and also other areas of the country where a service has yet to be established.
'It is my firm intention, as minister for Mental Health, to secure the funding for a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east in the budget estimates process for 2026,' added Ms Butler.
