Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the serious situation that has arisen within the mental health services which has had resources cut unfairly and disproportionately, with spending reduced to 9.2% between 2006 and 2009, and that 5.3% of the overall health budget is now at the lowest level in the history of the State, at a time when there is an increase in mental health difficulties resulting from the economic crisis and a consequential increase of suicidal behaviour resulting in fatal and non-fatal self-harming, and that suicide rates in 2009 increased by 25% and now stand at 527 deaths, with self-harming increased by 10% and self-harming and attempted suicide now estimated at 70,000 per annum.

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