I am personally connected with mental health services, and likewise, so are my children. The system, as it stands today, is understaffed, underfunded, and not functional enough to meet the requirements of all those who desperately need it. The current state cries for a significant overhaul to offer the supports that individuals genuinely need.

The Irish government has recently committed 9 million euros to provide phone pouches for every child in school. It is a stark reminder of misplaced priorities when essential services remain under-resourced. This 9 million euros could be spent more wisely and compassionately. Instead, it could fund mental health services and transfer additional funds towards improving our schools.

According to statistics from Mental Health Reform, Ireland's leading national coalition on mental health, almost 200,000 or 1 in 10 children and teenagers have an identifiable mental health condition in our nation (Mental Health Reform 2020). Meanwhile, the Education Support Union of Ireland reported that approximately 1 in 4 schools require significant repair or even replacement (Education Support Union of Ireland 2019).

This proposed 9 million euros could help reverse these statistics by investing in additional professional mental health staff, developing mental health programs, and repairing our schools. In effect, it would be a step toward creating an environment where our children can grow grace, dignity, strength, and nurture their mental and academic capacities.

Let's urge the government to reallocate this 9 million euro expenditure from phone pouches to mental health services and schools' improvement, where it can enact practical change and meet more pressing needs. Please, sign this petition and ask our government to prioritize wisely and compassionately.