Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne has made an impassioned plea to the former Junior Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler T.D., and the HSE to provide emergency funding to the suicide prevention service SOSAD, so they can continue to assist their service users.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Byrne said “SOSAD Ireland, has provided a crisis lifeline for 17 years since its inception in 2007 for people struggling with suicidal ideation, self-harming, depression, bereavement, stress and anxiety - through free, confidential counselling in-person and remotely; a 24/7 Freephone Helpline and an Online Messaging Service.

“This work is supported by a team of 206 volunteer counsellors across Ireland, and without core funding and promised Government intervention the service is at risk of imminent closure.

“To highlight how invaluable this service is to my hometown and city of Drogheda, right throughout Louth and around the Northeast, and indeed nationwide, in 2024 the service offered over 23,000 Counselling sessions to 1,904 individual clients.”

Deputy Byrne explained that last year, the situation became so dire, that she and other Sinn Féin TDs, requested a meeting between SOSAD and Minister Butler.

A meeting between Minister Butler and SOSAD took place in early November 2024 at which they were given a personal commitment from the Minister to secure interim funding to keep the doors open while exploring sustainability options with the HSE. The Minister advised them to liaise with the HSE to secure Section 39 funding.

But they had no contact from the Minister since, their calls and emails on the matter were ignored and the promised emergency funding did not materialise.

“That is why I raised the matter in The Dáil again” Deputy Bryne said. “SOSAD met with the HSE in January 2025, and the group are now actively engaging with them on planning for sustainable future funding.

“However, it may not be possible to keep their doors open in the meantime, and with only a few thousand euro left in their bank at present, the hope of continuing to provide their essential counselling services is looking bleaker by the day.

“Since November last year I have written to the Minister on this, my party leader has written to the Minister on this, my party Spokesperson has written to the Minister on this, and other colleagues have done the same. I have met with SOSAD at their Drogheda offices a number of times, and I see first-hand how important this service is.

“It is simply unthinkable and unacceptable that any Minister or the government are prepared to gamble with such vital community based mental health supports.

“In her response the Minister did not commit to SOSAD receiving the emergency interim funding requested but advised to liaise with the HSE to secure section 39 funding again.

“I am beyond disappointed in the government response, but I will work intensively with SOSAD and the HSE to secure the funding required to keep their doors open.”