Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reassurance regarding ongoing issues. It is still raw because the service has only just closed. Indeed, the closing date was brought forward. There was a creditors' meeting at which no answers were given. I am glad the Minister of State has given the assurance that the HSE will ensure that the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas will be provided with counselling and that any gaps in service provision will be addressed through those services.

Those who have now been left without counselling services in the community, the young people and families with whom Hesed House, which has been there for 28 years, has worked in the past, are now in a vulnerable position. They have been assured, insofar as is possible, that services will be available. The service grew out of the community. All of the local organisations were able to access it. Schools in particular, which in other areas are often crying out for services, had one here. Young people in particular could turn up at the doorstep and be looked after. It also stood up to the mark during the pandemic. Given where we are as a society with regard to mental health and what we have experienced over the pandemic of the last two years, never mind all of the additional pressures faced by people living in those areas, it is vital that a service which can last, rather than a stopgap measure, be put in place as soon as possible. I am happy that the Minister of State has assured us that the drugs policy unit in his Department will liaise with the HSE to ensure that a service is put in place and, if at all possible, that all the community stakeholders will work together to ensure that this service is put in place as quickly as possible so that there will not be a break in counselling or therapy for those most in need.

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