Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

I rise to speak about the Loreto Centre Crumlin in Dublin 12. It is a trusted and vital mental health and community support service that has been serving families, individuals and young people in Crumlin and Dublin South-Central more widely for more than 25 Years. The Loreto Centre Crumlin was founded by the Loreto order of nuns and has grown over the decades into a cornerstone of the community. It provides counselling, education and support services to those in crisis or in need of emotional and mental health support. It is widely relied upon by local GPs and residents and plays a unique role in meeting the mental health needs of those in an the area that is often, as we know, underserved.

The centre delivers approximately 3,000 units of counselling per year. This is a remarkable achievement in itself, even more so when we consider that all of the therapists and the clinical director work on a voluntary basis. There is one permanent member of staff, supported by six community employment workers and one job initiative worker. This speaks volumes about the dedication and heart of those involved but also highlights the fragility of this funding model.

On 21 October 2024, the Loreto Centre Crumlin submitted a funding application to the head of mental health services in the Department of Health requesting multi-annual financial support. That application is still pending and the centre is now operating with an annual deficit of nearly €50,000. It is unsustainable to continue without secure funding and the centre may not survive. This would be an enormous loss to the community and a huge setback for the broader effort to provide local, accessible, community-based mental healthcare.

I cannot overstate the importance of protecting and strengthening organisations such as the Loreto Centre Crumlin. They embody what we mean when we talk about community-led health provision. They offer compassionate local support at a very low cost to the State and with extraordinary levels of volunteerism and public benefit. Investing in this centre is not only morally right, but also represents a high-impact, value-for-money commitment to mental health in an area that truly needs it. I urge the Minister of State to prioritise the review of this funding application and to commit to supporting the Loreto Centre Crumlin for 2025 and beyond. The service it provides is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Without it, we risk failing those in our society who are struggling the most.

I would like to personally extend an invitation to the Minister of State or to senior representatives from her Department to visit the Loreto Centre Crumlin and see the work done there, meet the volunteers and meet the clients and families who rely on this incredible resource. Seeing it first hand will powerfully demonstrate the need to preserve and support what has been built there. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

See this speech in context