Jigsaw’s vision for Budget 2027

Stepping up for young people

More young people in Ireland are reaching out for mental health support than ever before. In the first half of 2026 alone, Jigsaw saw a 39% jump in referrals.

That kind of increase tells a story about the growing pressures young people are navigating today. And while it’s positive that more young people feel able to ask for help, a surge like this puts massive strain on the services that exist right now.

Over the last couple of years, our teams have worked to adapt. We’ve redesigned how we operate to stretch our resources and make sure young people get the right support at the right time. Thanks to that work, we’ve managed to keep waiting times stable even with the huge increase in the number of young people seeking help from Jigsaw.

But being more efficient in our services will only get us so far.

Budget 2027 is our chance to build on this. By working together in partnership with the Government and the HSE, we can get immediate support to a greater number of those who need it and build a youth mental health system that actually lasts.

Here is what our Pre-Budget submission is asking for:

1. Protecting the services we have today

Timely care is everything. It gives young people the tools to build resilience before things get too overwhelming.

That is why we’re seeking for an additional €800,000 in recurring funding, allowing us to keep our wait times down and maintain the standard of care we have now.

This investment would let us hire new clinical staff in our busiest areas. Importantly, it would also mean we can stop relying on our own limited charity reserves – which was only ever a temporary fix to keep our doors open – and move to a sustainable funding model.

2. Bringing Jigsaw to new communities

Where a young person lives shouldn’t decide the support they get.

That is why we’re seeking a €2 million annual investment to open two new Jigsaw services in 2027.

Looking at population data and community readiness, our main target is County Kildare, followed by a second service in a region like Sligo/Leitrim.

3. A roadmap for the whole country

The long-term goal is for every young person in Ireland to have equal access to our services.

That is why we seeking a firm commitment in Budget 2027 to a shared, multi-year plan developed by Jigsaw, the Department of Health, and the HSE.

With a solid investment strategy over the next four years, we can build a nationwide network of care.

“Young people across Ireland are navigating an increasingly complex world, and the surge in demand for our services is a clear sign of those growing pressures,”

says Dr. Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw. “Their willingness to reach out shows great personal resilience, but it also highlights an urgent, nationwide need for support.

“Alongside our partners in government and the HSE, we’ve worked hard to adapt and innovate to meet this demand. To make sure no young person is left waiting for care , we now need to take the next step together. Budget 2027 is an opportunity to build on the progress we’ve collectively made, ensuring sustainable, nationwide early intervention that protects our young people’s mental health before they reach a crisis point.”

Looking Ahead

National healthcare challenges are incredibly complex, but the path forward here is clear. By investing in early intervention today, we improve outcomes for thousands of young people, take the pressure off hospitals and specialist clinics, and make sure Ireland’s mental health system is built on prevention rather than just crisis response.

At Jigsaw, we remain fully committed to working with our government partners to make this a reality.