As one social media user put it:
”Mary Butler should be absolutely ashamed of herself for making such disgraceful comments”.
Government Chief Whip Mary Butler is facing calls to retract her comments on ADHD and autism diagnoses, with some urging her to resign if she does not, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the minister’s remarks had angered many parents of children with additional needs.
The Minister of State for Mental Health had commented on Wednesday that a rise in ADHD diagnoses is contributing to longer waiting lists for mental health care, reports RTE.
She said that diagnoses of ADHD and autism appeared to be on the rise, before clarifying that “trend” might not have been the best word choice.
According to the minister, consultant psychiatrists running Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) had recently informed her that ADHD accounts for between 50% and 70% of their referrals, r r
A spokesperson for Minister Butler said today that her full comments show she was highlighting the growing number of ADHD cases within CAMHS and the need for a more streamlined approach.
“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, reports RTE.
“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,” reports RTE.
During The Week in Politics, it was also revealed that some parents of children with additional needs have been turned away by as many as 16 schools while trying to secure a place for the next academic year.
Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane pointed out that despite government announcements about creating additional school places, many schools lack the resources to accommodate those students, reports RTE.
He mentioned shortages in trained staff as well as a lack of proper facilities like break-out spaces and sensory rooms.
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