Jigsaw service for Kildare 'high on Minister of State for Mental Health’s agenda'

Kildare has the highest proportion of people under the age of 24 in Ireland

By Ciarán Mather Published 30th Jul 2026, 16:30 BST Jigsaw service for Kildare 'high on Minister of State for Mental Health’s agenda' | FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY Kildare has the highest proportion of people under the age of 24 in Ireland Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.

The provision of a mental health service by Jigsaw for County Kildare is 'high on the Minister of State for Mental Health ’s agenda'.

That’s according to Newbridge -based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin , who made the comments as she welcomed welcomed confirmation from her party colleague, Minister, Mary Butler TD, that the establishment of a Jigsaw youth mental health service in Kildare ‘is a priority’.

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The comments came after Senator O’Loughlin raised the issue in the Seanad, during which she highlighted that Kildare has the highest proportion of people under the age of 24 in the State, but does not have a dedicated Jigsaw service.

During the debate, Senator O’Loughlin outlined the need for greater access to early intervention mental health supports for young people.

She also noted that while ‘some require specialist CAMHS services’, she emphasised that many more ‘benefit from community based services such as Jigsaw’.

Moreover, the Senator highlighted that people under the age of 24 account for 36.6 per cent of Kildare’s population, the highest proportion in the country, and pointed to the growing demand for youth mental health supports.

Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin | FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY Speaking in the Seanad Senator O’Loughlin said: “There is a huge scale of need; I always hate talking about these figures, but in terms of the rate of youth suicide, Kildare has the highest rate in Leinster.

“According to CSO figures, 14 people died by suicide in Kildare in 2023, in 2022 the figure was 26 and in 2021 it was 27. Demand is rising sharply for services.”

Responding in the Seanad, Minister Butler told Senator O’Loughlin: “Kildare is high on my agenda in respect of Jigsaw.

“It speaks for itself, with the statistics the Senator has provided and the number of young people.

“The HSE working with Jigsaw would have the ultimate decision on location but Newbridge having 36% of the population really speaks to a massive demand.”

The Minister continued: “We are just starting with the Estimates process now and I will be working really hard to secure the funding to expand a youth mental health service provision, as these go out to tender as well.

“My aim is to make sure that there will be another presence of Jigsaw within budget 2027. The Senator's area is very high up on the list to deliver a Jigsaw.”

“We have a few areas that specifically need them, we all know where they are and Kildare is one of them.”

Minister Butler concluded by asserting to her: “ I will continue to work with the Senator on this because it is really important.”

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Welcoming the Minister’s response, Senator O’Loughlin said: “The scale of demand for youth mental health services in Kildare is clear; we have the youngest population in the country and far too many young people are travelling outside the county to access the supports they need.

“Jigsaw has an excellent record of providing early intervention mental health services, helping young people access support before their difficulties become more serious, and expanding that service into Kildare would make a real difference for young people and their families.”

She concluded by adding that she, alongside with local Fianna Fáil councillors Noel Heavey and Rob Power, has been working to identify a suitable premises in Newbridge to accommodate the service when it is approved.

Senator O’Loughlin’s comments also follow shortly after it was announced that a new mental health education app, which is primarily aimed at Newbridge residents, was launched last week .

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