Offaly to receive significant funding for mental health services
Accessible Counselling Tullamore will receive €80,000 to aid their vital work in the sector
Offaly are set to receive significant funding for mental health services as part of a major national investment by Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler TD.
The allocation will bolster community-based counselling and talk therapy supports, with a specific focus on enhancing local access to vital services.
Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT), an initiative that will deliver crucial counselling and psychotherapy sessions within the community will receive €80,000.
This funding is part of a broader €1 million recurring annual investment in partnership with Community Therapy Ireland, aimed at expanding services nationwide.
Fine Gael TD for Offaly, John Clendennen welcomed the funding and emphasised the profound impact the investment will have. He said: “It is great to see this substantial funding directed towards Accessible Counselling Tullamore. Ensuring that our community has timely and accessible mental health supports is paramount.”
Deputy Clendennen added: “This €80,000 allocation will be directly aimed at new clients, benefitting individuals and families, by providing them with the professional care they need, close to home."
Of the 29 different member organisations of Community Therapy Ireland, who have either achieved or are working towards achieving, the CTI Clinical Badge of Excellence, Accessible Counselling Tullamore is receiving the largest individual funding allocation.
These member organisations will between them deliver an additional 9,000 counselling and psychotherapy sessions between August 1 and December 31 2026 in a new partnership between the HSE and Community Therapy Ireland.
It aligns with the government's commitment to strengthening early intervention mental health supports and making high-quality talk therapies available across all communities.
Deputy Clendennen is adamant that the investment shows a strong commitment towards mental health. "This investment is a testament to the government's dedication to mental health and reflects the dedication of the team at Accessible Counselling Tullamore.”
He concluded: "I would like to acknowledge the HSE partnership with members of Community Therapy Ireland and extend my congratulations to everyone at Accessible Counselling Tullamore who have been doing stellar work since founded by the late James O’Connor and his partner Lisa O'Connor in 2020."