Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Government amendment refers to the commitment to implementing the recommendation of the national strategy for action on suicide prevention with a view to reducing suicide rates. I acknowledge the contribution made by Deputy Dan Neville, who impresses us greatly with his work on suicide prevention. I have taken an interest in it in recent times. I was a member of the sub-committee of the Joint Committee on Health and Children that dealt with the issue last year.

The national strategy for action on suicide prevention, Reach Out, sets out its intent to "plan, develop and implement an effective service response appropriate to the need in each area, such as liaison psychiatric nurse services in all accident and emergency departments for responding to those who present following DSH or who are acutely suicidal". The office for suicide prevention is anxious that by the end of the year each accident and emergency unit has at least one specialist member of staff to follow up with those who present at hospitals having self-harmed. In this case I pursued the issue and found out that in Dublin specialist nurses are in place in St. James's Hospital, Connolly Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and St. Colmcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown. In St. Vincent's Hospital the response to self-harm presentations is made through the psychiatric liaison team. I regret that Tallaght hospital has not made such an appointment and I am supported by many colleagues in calling for it. I have taken an interest in this matter in recent times, assisting those who feel strongly about it.

I pay tribute to a local organisation, Teenline Ireland, based in St. Dominic's Centre in Tallaght and founded by Ms Maureen Bolger following the sad death of her son a few years ago. The organisation does tremendous work and points out that young people should contact it if anxious, lonely, vulnerable, depressed or suicidal. The organisation has a drop-in centre in Tallaght — I am sorry for speaking only about Tallaght. The centre also has a board with memorials, correspondence and cards from families of young people throughout the country. Most of this debate will focus on education but we must pay attention, as Deputy Devins did, to the need for more resources for suicide prevention among young people. I hope the Minister will pay attention. I called for more resources for educational projects at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting last night.

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