Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor McGuinness, has said confusion over funding applications for a Jigsaw mental health service for Waterford highlights a wider pattern of failure by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Government.
Jigsaw provides early-intervention youth mental health support. Waterford is the only city in the state — and the entire South East the only region — without access.
Deputy McGuinness said contradictory Dáil replies demand urgent answers from Minister Mary Butler.
“This week I was told no applications were received in the past five years to May. But previous replies confirmed submissions in 2022 and 2023, both turned down due to lack of funding. That contradiction is deeply worrying. The Minister must explain how it happened, and I have written today to seek clarification.”
He said the confusion exposes a lack of delivery and leadership.
“It’s not a paperwork issue. Minister Butler must clarify how many applications were made, when they were refused, and why.
“And if the system is this confused, how can we trust it to handle the current proposal properly?”
McGuinness has consistently raised the issue as both a councillor and since his election as a TD.
He concluded:
“Enough delay. The Minister must approve the current application. Young people in Waterford have waited long enough.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 