Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank you Dr. McDaid for her presentation. I apologise for being late. I have read it in the meantime. Could she provide a view on out-of-hours social worker access? Actions speak louder than words.

The National Office for Suicide Prevention advertised recently for ten suicide prevention officers nationally. Our assessment is that 40 are required, at least one per county and significantly more for larger counties such as Dublin, Galway and more populous areas. Has the organisation done an analysis on the cost of mental health versus the funds allocated to it, including indirect costs such as the impact on affected families in terms of reduced output and what may be termed "presenteeism"?