New youth mental health service for Cavan and Monaghan

Funding in Budget 2027 will facilitate the establishment of a new Early Intervention Jigsaw Youth Mental Health Services for Cavan and Monaghan.

Jigsaw is a mental health charity that provides free therapy and support to young people living in Ireland.

They work with young people aged 12 to 25 both online or in person at one of their 18 locations around Ireland.

This investment of €3.8m in Budget 2027 will extend access to an additional 135,000 young people.

Welcoming the funding, Deputy Brendan Smith (FF) described how Jigsaw supports have been "very beneficial" to young people.

"I have renewed my request to the Minister and to the HSE for these services to be established at the earliest possible date," he said.

As well as Cavan and Monaghan, three other Early Intervention Jigsaw Youth Mental Health Services will be established in Sligo, Leitrim, Kildare and Dun Laoghaire.

Meanwhile, Minister Niamh Smyth said young people and families across Cavan and Monaghan have been asking for a Jigsaw service "for a long time"and now "it's coming".

"I want to thank Minister Butler for her support in getting this service over the line for our young people. I'll keep working with her and with Jigsaw to make sure it opens and is up and running in Cavan-Monaghan as soon as possible."