Debate contribution: ADHD Services
Debate contribution by Mr Colin McGrath on .
- MLA
- Mr Colin McGrath
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 9 February 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- ADHD Services
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5369713
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The debate matters, because ADHD is not a marginal condition that affects a small cohort of people but a growing, life-shaping reality for thousands of people across the North. The evidence shows that the system is struggling to keep up. At the outset, I acknowledge the work of those across South Down who are stepping in where that system falls short. I am sure that other MLAs have such organisations in their constituencies that support families, advocate for children and help adults to navigate services that are not designed with them in mind. I think specifically of Autism Support Kilkeel, the Downpatrick Autism Family Support Group and the ADHD hub in Newcastle, although I know that there are other organisations in South Down that help. Those organisations reflect to me a number of the key issues, including that people wait years for an ADHD or autism assessment; that many of the individuals have overlapping ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression or learning disabilities; and that service provision does not reflect need. Grassroots organisations such as those fill the enormous gap where there is no funding. I hope that the Minister will provide details of any support that will be made available, given the UK Government's disgraceful cut to the local growth fund, which will impact on even more of the organisations that reach out across our constituencies and help people where the system is not able to catch up. One group recently contacted me during Apprenticeship Week to raise concerns about barriers to small employers in taking on apprentices. That matters because many young people with ADHD thrive in practical skills-based environments, but, without a diagnosis, support and workplace understanding, those opportunities are lost and so is the potential of those young people. I recently asked the Communities Minister how many people with ADHD have been awarded personal independence payment (PIP) in the past five years. In just five years, the number of people with ADHD who have been awarded PIP has more than tripled, rising from around 300 claims in 2020 to well over 800 in 2024. Despite that, almost half of ADHD applications were disallowed at initial assessment last year, with many being later overturned after reconsideration. That shows just how poorly the system understands and responds to ADHD in practice across the spectrum of services. Those numbers reflect real people and families who are struggling, often without diagnosis, treatment and consistent support. The publishing of the Department's report on commissioning ADHD services is overdue. Families, clinicians and community organisations need to see the evidence, the scale of the need and the options that are being considered. Transparency builds trust, and trust is badly lacking when people wait for years for assessment or have to pay privately out of absolute desperation. Shared care arrangements matter. If GPs are not properly supported and involved, treatment pathways collapse before they even begin. I want to be clear with the Executive today: ADHD is not just a health issue; it affects education, employment, social security and mental health. It is an issue for every Minister around the Executive table. I hope that Ministers listen, because the community is having to pick up the slack. It is left struggling year-on-year, trying to find the funding to deliver essential services. Given that almost half of ADHD PIP claims are being disallowed, numbers are rising year-on-year and families are forced to go private or give up trying entirely, that is not individual failure; it is a systemic failure. We are letting people down when they need help most.
592 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.96).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.96 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:33 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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