Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman and Senator O'Loughlin for the warm wishes extended to me. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising the issue of the opening of a branch of Jigsaw, the mental health organisation, in Newbridge, County Kildare. She is quite right that I have heard her talk about this over many years; it is not something I have heard for the first time today.

As we all know, Jigsaw is an absolutely fantastic organisation. It has 12 sites nationwide, all of which provide brief intervention and support to young people aged 12 to 25 with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. When I came into this role 11 weeks ago, I met Dr. Joseph Duffy, the CEO of Jigsaw, and was really struck by the way in which it organises and does its business. Most importantly, prior to Covid, one could refer oneself to Jigsaw, so a 12-, 13- or 14-year-old could actually walk up to a Jigsaw premises and self-refer. One can also attend with a sibling, one's parents or an advocate. What is also very important about Jigsaw is that it continues its supports until the person is 25. Child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, for example, end at 18 and then one enters into the adult services. Many 18-year-olds are still in school doing their leaving certificate or they might be transitioning into college, which can be a very difficult time for them. From that point of view, Jigsaw's ethos is fantastic. In addition, what Jigsaw has done during the Covid pandemic is phenomenal. It was able to move online within four days to provide blended support services. Obviously, with Covid, a lot of the face-to-face interactions had to end, but Jigsaw was able to move online and continue its supports.

As the Senator will be aware, mental health continues to be a priority for the Government, and I intend to progress all aspects of mental health in the context of implementing the current programme for Government and the new policy, Sharing the Vision. Mental health service users are among the most vulnerable in society. In recognition of this, €39 million was added to the HSE mental health budget last year, bringing the annual budget to €1.026 billion. This is significant investment but it has to continue. I am in budget negotiations trying to extend that amount. The HSE provides approximately €10 million annually to support 12 Jigsaw sites nationally. A priority for me and the HSE is to open two new Jigsaw services, in Wicklow and Tipperary, by the end of this year.The question of providing new Jigsaw services for 2021 or beyond can only be taken in the context of agreeing the forthcoming budget and the subsequent HSE service plan for next year. It should also take account of other similar early intervention services in an area, whether they are provided by the HSE directly or by another agency on its behalf.

The Senator mentioned HOPE(D), the fantastic work it is doing and that their future is uncertain at the moment. I am happy to visit south County Kildare with her to meet this organisation because it is very important. The number of organisations on the ground providing help and support is phenomenal. It is all about care in the community because that is important. To progress a Jigsaw project in a particular area it is very important to get local community buy-in, the support of the HSE and local authority and to try to identify a premises. That would be very helpful and I will support in any way I can.