(Ireland) Minister slammed for questioning increase in ADHD/ASD

April 13, 2025, RTE: Call over junior minister comments on ADHD, autism 

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1507434/  

Government Chief Whip Mary Butler has been urged to withdraw comments about attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism diagnoses, or else resign.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger made the call on RTÉ's The Week in Politics saying parents of children with additional needs were enraged by the comments.

The Chief Whip, who also is a Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health, said on Wednesday that an increase in diagnoses of ADHD is leading to an increase in waiting lists for mental health services.

She said ADHD and autism seemed to be where the trend is going before adding that "trend" may be the wrong word.

The minister had been told recently by consultant psychiatrists leading Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams that ADHD represented between 50% and 70% of their referrals.

A spokesperson for the minister said today that it is clear from her full remarks that she was urging the sector to address the reality that ADHD presentations now represent a significant part of the CAMHS' workload and suggested a streamlined approach is needed.

"The minister further implored the sector to ensure children and young people are not waiting significant periods of up to 18 months to access assessment and treatment.

"At no point did the minister invalidate the diagnosis of young people diagnosed with ADHD in CAMHS or suggest this increase in presentations was as a result of over-diagnosis."

The Week in Politics programme also heard that some parents of children with additional needs have been rejected by up to 16 schools as they seek a place for their children next September.

Sinn Féin's David Cullinane said that while there have been several announcements of extra places, schools have not in many cases been equipped to provide these places.

He spoke of a lack of trained teachers, break-out rooms and sensory rooms.