Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some of the significant new funding provided by the Government for the key mental health care programme this year will be used to enhance prevention and early intervention services, such as the Jigsaw model of care. The HSE, in the context of its agreed service plan 2019, and arising from a recent evaluation of Jigsaw nationally, is considering in detail decisions around possible new Jigsaw sites over this year and next.

The HSE has informed me that a decision was taken in late 2018 to integrate services in Tallaght and Clondalkin under a single management structure. Importantly, however, there is no intention to reduce the number of front-line staff. The intention is to make the service more stable, sustainable, flexible and accessible to young people. Any inference or misinformation about the service being reduced or taken away is inaccurate and is indeed quite unhelpful in that it may cause uncertainty for young people and their families or those considering reaching out.

The main hub for the integrated service will be a new, larger premises in Tallaght. Jigsaw will still operate from the existing hub in Clondalkin for at least the remainder of this year, after which it will be looking at other premises or co-location options so that it ensures both a presence and accessibility across the full catchment area. Jigsaw has moved to reassure everyone involved by putting out “business as usual” messages on its social media. Jigsaw has also provided certain reassurances to local community agencies and to elected representatives.

The service, currently based on Moorefield Avenue in Clondalkin, is not closing. Jigsaw is currently exploring options for service delivery into south County Dublin around their new premises in Tallaght for this service from 2020 and beyond. It remains fully committed to the young people of Clondalkin and surrounding areas and will continue to deliver mental health services to them and their families. Any decision to change the physical location of the service will be made in line with Jigsaw’s desire to continue to offer the best it can to the people of Clondalkin and surrounding areas. The new premises in Tallaght will bring together the Jigsaw Clondalkin and Jigsaw Tallaght teams, thus creating one larger, more resilient team to ensure stability and sustainability into the long term for the service to the county.

In line with trends across Jigsaw’s network, the last twelve months have seen a 15% surge in demand for its services in Dublin south west. Jigsaw will continue to be responsive to this demand to the best of its ability. What Jigsaw will offer to the community in Clondalkin will actually expand, not contract, with a choice of locations for appointments - either Tallaght or Clondalkin - from now until the end of the year. There will be an e-mental health platform available from April to young parents, adults and professionals working with young people, and a new, integrated schools programme will be rolled out across the area from next September. There will be no reduction in their day-to-day work with young people and the community across Clondalkin, Lucan, Newcastle and Palmerstown.

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