Ms Kate Mitchell:

I thank the Deputy for his question on this fundamental issue. The figures on presentations of self-harm continue to be significantly high among our younger population. A HSE national clinical care programme has been introduced on self-harm presentations to emergency departments. This has been in operation since 2014. I believe it has been expanding to each emergency department throughout the country. My understanding is that 24 emergency departments now have a dedicated self-harm specialised clinical nurse in post, with the aim of expanding this to the three paediatric hospitals. As far as I am aware, this issue is being addressed to some extent through the self-harm national clinical care programme. It will be very important to continue to review the programme and monitor it to ensure it is being implemented effectively.