Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question is on mental health services. We were delighted recently to hear the announcement from the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, that Jigsaw would be rolled out in Tipperary. Unfortunately, our delight has dissipated because we are now told that the main hub will be in Thurles, which we accept. Outreach centres were to be delivered in Clonmel and other areas but we are told now that they will be delayed for a year or more. It will be a year before we have the Thurles hub up and running. Towns like Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel, in south Tipperary, and other areas are experiencing a suicide epidemic. I refer to clergymen like Rev. Michael Toomey, Rev. Paul Ward, Fr. Jimmy Browne and many others, and community groups such as suicide watch, the River Suir suicide patrol and Taxi Watch. The number of young people losing their lives to suicide in Tipperary is now an epidemic. We cannot wait for another two years to have these outreach services delivered. We will have the hub in Thurles but outreach services are desperately needed in Carrick-on-Suir, Roscrea, north Tipperary and other areas. I ask the Taoiseach please to act on this because we are losing lives by the dozen year in, year out.

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