AQW 38545/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 19/01/2026
Answered On Date: 03/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he is considering a recruitment drive to improve waiting times for ADHD assessments.

Answer:

The Department commissioned a needs assessment on ADHD in early February 2025, the findings of which will help inform options for a commissioned ADHD service, subject to future budget availability in an extremely challenging financial environment.

The needs assessment, which covers both adults and children, will aim to determine the level of demand for a commissioned service, as well as recommendations for what such a service might look like. Consideration of future staffing requirements has formed an integral part of the needs assessment.

The final ADHD needs assessment report was received by the Department at the end of November 2025. The report is currently under consideration, with a view to identifying next steps and arranging publication thereafter. It is anticipated that the report will be published in early 2026.