Additional supports for adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have been announced by Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler.
Three additional teams are to be developed this year for the National Clinical Programme for ADHD in adults.
"We know that for many people, the challenges faced during childhood because of ADHD continue on long after they have turned 18," Minister Butler said in a post on Twitter.
"It is crucial that our health service can ensure any person with ADHD, regardless of their age, has access to the appropriate care and supports for their mental health needs."
She added: "A recruitment process has begun for the teams, which will be based in Community Healthcare Organisations 4 (Cork/Kerry) 7 (Kildare/West Wicklow/Dublin West, South City and South West) and 8 (Laois/Offaly/Longford/Westmeath/Louth/Meath)."
ADHD Ireland has welcomed the development with CEO Ken Kilbride saying that the extra measures are badly needed with around 3.4% of the adult population (over 160,000 people) estimated to have the disorder.
However, he expressed concern that the Health Service Executive will find it challenging to recruit the necessary experts.
"The extra teams announced today will bring the coverage of support services to adults with ADHD up to 50% of the country - so that is welcome news.
"We have long campaigned for this.
"However, there are already very long waiting lists for both children and adults seeking a diagnosis for ADHD.
"Typically, an adult who gets a referral from their GP will wait at least a year for an appointment with a psychiatrist in the private system. There are no private child psychiatrists.
"For public patients, the wait times vary, it is very much a postcode lottery."
Mr Kilbride said a study carried out by ADHD Ireland between August 2021 and January 2022, with 136 respondents, found that 90% had not been diagnosed with the condition until adulthood.
One in five said they had attempted suicide, while half had self-harmed in the past.
He noted that there are high rates of undiagnosed ADHD in Irish adult mental health services, citing a rate of 23.9% in Dublin and 20.7%, according to studies.
"So, while we welcome today's news, more work needs to be done. We would like to see 100% of all Community Health Organisations offering ADHD services to adults within the next two years."
Minister Butler has also confirmed that the National Clinical Programme for ADHD, along with ADHD Ireland and the UCD School of Pyschiatry, will launch a new ADHD app to provide information and support to adults who have ADHD or think they have ADHD.
