Ireland currently has one of the highest rates of mental health illness in Europe.
The country's mental health services have been described as being 'in crisis' and 'pushed to the brink'.
The Labour party health spokesperson is accusing the government of paying lip service to the issue and being slow to invest in services in any meaningful way.
Deputy Duncan Smith says the fall out from Covid on younger people is causing considerable stress on services that cannot cope.
"Everyone we're speaking to in mental heath services is saying that the impact of Covid on our young people is unwinding now, we're seeing it in presentations to our mental health services.
"WE don't know the full extent of it but it is causing a big stress on our services, and we have many young people who have gone through this trauma who are unable to get the services they require."
