Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South West, John Lahart, has welcomed the allocation of €40,117 in new funding for community counselling services in Tallaght under a partnership between the HSE and Community Therapy Ireland (CTI).
The funding will support The Village Counselling Service in Old Bawn, which has been allocated €24,070, and An Cosán in Tallaght, which has been allocated €16,047, helping to expand access to counselling and psychotherapy services for people across South West Dublin.
The funding forms part of a €1 million annual investment announced in Budget 2026 to increase access to community-based counselling and psychotherapy services nationwide. Through the new partnership, Community Therapy Ireland member organisations will provide an additional 9,000 counselling sessions between August and December 2026.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Lahart said:
“As a former psychotherapist, I am particularly delighted to see this funding being provided to The Village Counselling Service and An Cosán, two organisations that do invaluable work supporting people across Dublin South West. Demand for mental health supports remains strong, and this investment will help ensure that more people can access professional counselling services quickly and close to where they live.
“Access to timely mental health support can make a real difference in people’s lives. By investing in trusted community organisations, we are helping to ensure that people receive the right support, in the right place and at the right time.”
Community Therapy Ireland represents 29 counselling and psychotherapy organisations nationwide and works to provide accessible, affordable and high-quality mental health supports within local communities.
The new funding is aimed particularly at increasing supports for new clients, including young people and members of the LGBTQ+ community, while also supporting high standards of clinical governance and service delivery.
Lahart said the investment highlights the importance of strengthening community-based mental health services.
“Community organisations are often the first point of contact for people seeking support. This funding recognises the vital work being carried out locally every day and will help ensure that individuals and families across Dublin South West can continue to access the help they need when they need it most.”
The Village Counselling Service and An Cosán are among 29 organisations nationally receiving funding through the Community Therapy Ireland partnership.