Health Services
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-18
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Maria McCormack (SF), Labour Panel

I want to speak today about adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, services in Laois and the reality of what is there right now. This service was introduced with clear demand but without proper planning or resources. That is where the problem is.
The service opened in 2024. The adult ADHD service has received close to 1,000 referrals, clearly demonstrating the scale of the need that exists there. Soon after the service opened, referrals for Laois and Offaly had to be paused due to the backlog. What we have now is a service that opened and almost immediately became inaccessible to new patients. That brings me to the key question here: why would a service be opened without the resources to sustain it?
What we see now is a total backlog, paused referrals and patients left waiting here. I have been informed that because this service opened without a proper base, clinicians are working in unsuitable conditions without reliable Internet, without proper phone access even and without dedicated clinical space. In some cases, they are relying on whatever room becomes available on the day. That is not how a healthcare service should operate.
While staff are doing their absolute best, they are being let down by the lack of infrastructure and long-term planning. Had we a plan in place in the first instance, we would not be where we are now.
The impact for patients is so real here. Adults are waiting to enter the system, many having struggled for years without diagnosis, now facing further delays with no clear timelines. This situation cannot continue.
When will referrals for Laois and Offaly reopen, what additional capacity will be put in place to deal with the backlog that is already there and, critically, when will this service be provided with a proper, fit-for-purpose base? It is important that we get this actioned now because these people are trying to hold down full-time jobs. It is an adult ADHD service. They are trying to go to work and live a normal life, but they are being left in limbo now for a service that should be fit for purpose.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-18