Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government sets out to improve mental health services. The SOSAD, Save our Sons and Daughters, organisation provides vital services and is running out of cash. It has made representations to try to move forward. It provides counselling, support and mental health services. It only has enough money to keep going for a number of weeks. In 2024, it provided services for 1,114 clients. In County Laois, it supported 229 people, with 2,891 hours of services.

This is a vital service. It takes referrals from a number of bodies, including the HSE. It is made up mainly of volunteers and has only 16 full-time staff nationally. It is trying to get a service level agreement in place. The Minister for Health is here today. Perhaps she will address this issue. The organisation needs €60,000 a month to keep going for the next five months or so. That is the same cost as the bicycle shed in this complex. The more than €300,000 spent on it would keep SOSAD going.

See this speech in context