Cllr McGuinness hits out at Minister for failing to serve youth of Waterford
Cllr Conor McGuinness
Councillor Conor McGuinness has criticised the outgoing Government over their failure to provide adequate services for the youth of Waterford.
The Sinn Féin councillor highlighted the delay in the Government introducing JIGSAW services in the Déise.
JIGSAW is a national centre that offers free mental health supports for young people aged 12-25. The centre is supported by the HSE, Department of Health, Sláintecare, Pobal, Community Foundation Ireland and Marks & Spencer.
There are JIGSAW centres in high-population areas across Ireland - except Waterford.
Cllr McGuinness said: "The HSE has confirmed to me that no decision has been made regarding development of a JIGSAW youth mental health service for Waterford, despite an application having been submitted over two years ago. I have long called for such a service to be stood up, and lobbied the HSE to submit an application for funding for Government, which they eventually did in October 2022.
Cllr McGuinness stated that Minister for Metal Health Mary Butler bears responsibility for the delay.
He said: "Two years on and a decision has still not been taken, despite the clear need on the ground, and the glaring discrepancy of Waterford being the only major population centre without a JIGSAW service. Questions must now be asked of the Minister for Mental Health, who bears ultimate political responsibility for this failure."
"JIGSAW is an early intervention, primary care service for young people’s mental health. It provides a range of mental health supports to young people, face-to-face and online. Waterford is the only city not to have this service, nor is there a JIGSAW facility in the wider South-East.
He ended: "I have consistently raised the need for a JIGSAW service publicly and via the HSE Regional Health Forum over the past five years, culminating in an application being submitted in 2022. That a decision has still not been made two years later is a terrible indictment of the lack of priority and political will for young mental health, and the wider neglect of Waterford and the South East."
