Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter in the House this evening. I am very familiar with the work of Save Our Sons And Daughters, or SOSAD, which makes a significant contribution to the provision of counselling services in north-east Leinster. It is important that this be acknowledged, as I have done previously.

SOSAD is not currently funded by HSE Louth Meath Mental Health Services. I am aware that, in August 2023, SOSAD applied for section 39 funding. This was not progressed at the time, as HSE Louth Meath Mental Health Services were not procuring new services, given that all funding had been allocated in line with the HSE national service plan.

I understand that, last year, SOSAD's financial situation deteriorated due to a reduction in fundraising and donations. We saw that a lot around the country post Covid. This was brought to my attention in autumn and I met with SOSAD in November. As the Deputy stated, we had a very good meeting. Officials from the Department of Health were also present to discuss the situation. I was very clear at the time. I asked for an amount of interim funding to be provided to help get SOSAD over the Christmas period, following which it could meet with the HSE and try to agree a service-level agreement going forward.

Funding to organisations such as SOSAD is arranged through the section 39 process via local HSE mental health services. It is not directly allocated by me. Following the meeting, I requested that HSE staff from the Louth-Meath area would make contact with SOSAD to outline the steps to be taken for any potential funding application. I accept that the initial contact was slow. It was slower than I would have liked. When I came back after the election, it was one of the first things I checked. I am glad that HSE Louth-Meath has been in direct contact with SOSAD for approximately two months now. My office receives regular updates on these engagements.

As per any negotiations between the HSE and any charity or organisation, there is a requirement to provide information such as audited accounts, annual reports, governance arrangements and board of management details, so that the HSE can undertake due diligence as part of its consideration of any potential funding arrangements. That applies to all NGOs and organisations funded by the HSE through the mental health budget.

I understand that SOSAD is now working to provide all of the relevant information to the HSE. However, I take on board the point Deputy Byrne makes that, while SOSAD is trying to provide this information, it is in a critical situation. The HSE in the Louth-Meath area is supporting SOSAD in its readiness to meet the corporate and clinical governance requirements. Deputy Byrne referred to the 206 volunteers and how the organisation had been in place for 17 years. I accept and acknowledge all the good work SOSAD does, but there are requirements to be met in order for us to fund any individual organisation to provide supports. With 206 volunteers, clinical governance and corporate governance are essential in order to receive State funding. That is the case across any organisation.

Nationally, a key objective of mine is to improve access to counselling and to enhance supports for suicide and suicide bereavement. I have allocated additional funding for these services this year.

I was struck by Deputy Byrne's comment about the gender breakdown of approximately 65% female, 35% male. We see that all over the country, whereby two thirds of all mental health services are accessed by females and only one third by males. That is a real challenge. I will come back in again.

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