Taoiseach 'hopes to sort' the loss of Laois mental health service

SOSAD Laois have lost their vital messaging service due to a lack of funding

Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the loss of SOSAD Laois' (Save Our Sons And Daughters) messaging service in the Dáil this week.

This messaging service allowed the public to speak to a team member over text, any time between 8pm to 12am. The charity announced this week that they were forced to close the operation due to a lack of funding.

Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley has raised the urgent need for funding for Laois SOSAD with the Taoiseach and Health Minister in the Dáil.

Pictured: Laois TD Brian Stanley

“The programme for government set out to improve mental health services," Deputy Stanley said in his address to the Taoiseach.

"The SOSAD, Save our Sons and Daughters, organisation provides vital services but 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 service.

"This is a vital service. It takes referrals from a number of bodies, including the HSE. It is made up of mainly 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," Deputy Stanley said.

Pictured: The 2022 opening of the SOSAD Laois office Volunteers Irina Volia and Helena Kavani with Carol Murphy, general manager SOSAD Ireland and Grace Ennis, Laois SOSAD co-ordinator.

"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.

"It has had to cut some services. We know mental health services have gaps and deficiencies. SOSAD is filling those gaps.

"Will the Taoiseach prioritise it and commit to providing the money and service level agreement that the SOSAD organisation needs? I ask the Taoiseach and Minister Carroll MacNeill that, as time and money is running out," Deputy Stanley finished.

“The Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, met SOSAD before Christmas," the Taoiseach responded.

"My Understanding is that there has been ongoing engagement between SOSAD and the HSE mental health services. That will continue.

"Engagement is continuing with the HSE in Louth-Meath and SOSAD on the steps required to complete a funding application. It is doing very good work.

"As I said, the Minister met the organisation to outline the steps that need to be taken for any potential funding application under the section 39 process.

"As the Deputy knows, as per any negotiation between the HSE and a charity organisation, information such as audited accounts, annual reports, governance arrangements and a bord of management are required so that the HSE can undertake due diligence as part of its consideration," he said.

"SOSAD is now working to provide all of that information to the HSE. It is hoped we can get this sorted," the Taoiseach finished.