Senator calls for immediate release of critical funding for SOSAD

Senator Pauline Tully has called for an urgent debate on mental health services requesting that particular focus in that debate be given to the critical funding crisis facing SOSAD.

Speaking in the Seanad yesterday, Senator Tully highlighted the invaluable services provided by SOSAD who have worked since 2007 to raise awareness and help prevent suicide in Ireland.

"SOSAD provide an invaluable service and have probably saved hundreds of lives. They offer a free phone service, messaging service, counselling service and they have a drop-in centre."

She made particular mention of the drop-in centre run by SOSAD in her home county town of Cavan and the staff who work and volunteer there.

Currently, SOSAD is in negotiations with the HSE for a service level agreement. Senator Tully reminded the Seanad that Minister Mary Butler promised ongoing funding last November to keep SOSAD’s services operational until that HSE agreement was finalised, but that funding has not materialised.

Senator Tully said that "SOSAD is now at a crisis point, they are pulling back on services and facing the possibility of running out of funds within a month.

"There is nothing to fill the gap if SOSAD goes bust," Senator Tully warned. "This is a service that is receiving referrals from the HSE and GPs."

She concluded by calling on Minister Butler to "engage with SOSAD to ensure sufficient funding to keep them going for approximately six months until the service level agreement is in place".