Calls for intervention in Jigsaw mental health service for Kildare
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh TD (SF) called for intervention for a Jigsaw service for Newbridge, Kildare
A Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South has asked the Minister of State at the Department of Health to intervene to provide a new building for the proposed Jigsaw mental health service in Newbridge.
Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh was addressing the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler in the Dáil this week.
Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said: “I raise mental health services for young people in Kildare South. As the Minister of State will be aware, we are in a crisis in youth mental health, with services oversubscribed across the State.
“In Kildare, the situation is particularly acute. Some 14 people died by suicide in Kildare in 2023 and, in recent times, one of the essential services supporting young people was shut down.
“I welcome the €1.1 million investment announced in budget 2027 for a new Jigsaw service in Newbridge, which is badly needed. However, there is currently no building for the service to operate out of and no obvious alternative.”
The Sinn Féin TD asked the Minister of State to personally intervene to provide for a new building, and to ensure that there is no further delay in the establishment of a new Jigsaw service in Newbridge.
Deputy Butler, responding, said she was “delighted” to confirm that, working with the Minister, she secured €3.6m in the budget to extend the provision of Jigsaw services across Kildare, Dún Laoghaire, Cavan-Monaghan and Sligo-Leitrim.
The Minister of State further stated that the funding provided for the Kildare area was the largest proportion at €1.1m.
This, she said, will be a “hub-and-spoke model” based in Newbridge but covering the whole of Kildare.
On securing a building for the Newbridge service, Deputy Butler said: “I have been working closely with my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, who is in correspondence with the local authority to try to secure a premises. I believe we are close to securing one.
“It is helpful if we have the support of local authorities in providing premises at a reasonable rent so that the bulk of the money can be spent on providing the services by the multidisciplinary team that is in place.”