Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The recent announcement that Donegal's only child and adolescent counselling service has been forced to close because of a lack of funding has sent shockwaves through many Donegal communities. It is an absolute disgrace. Not only has the counselling service been used, it has grown hugely with more than 15,000 counselling sessions provided in the past six years alone. There are 26 counsellors across seven outreach centres, including in Letterkenny, Dunfanaghy, Stranorlar, Buncrana and Creeslough. The Government cannot say in its budget press releases that mental health is a priority while allowing Tusla and the HSE not only to refuse funding but actively to strip away a vital service providing young people with counselling. Who decided that such an essential service was not worthy of funding? Will the Minister reverse that decision straight away, knowing that the cessation of the service will create a dangerous void in the provision of mental health services for young people in Donegal?

See this speech in context