Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The most recent statistics indicate that every year more than 800 citizens lose their lives to suicide across this island. Last year the statistic was 525 in this State and 289 in the North; these do not include attempted suicides or people who self-harm. I know the Taoiseach has had personal experience of how this has affected people in this Dáil. Hardly a day goes by in which some family does not have to come to terms with the shock of losing a loved one through suicide.

There is concern that some suicide might be linked to cyberbullying. What steps is the Government taking to curb cyberbullying? We know - and it is to be applauded - that substantial resources have been made available to tackle the carnage on our roads, but now three times as many people die every year by suicide as die on the roads. The model and approach of the Road Safety Authority could be adapted, with the use of a similar authority to tackle the suicide crisis. We need to ensure there is counselling, that there are more resources and that education and information are provided for those in distress and to allow everyone else to recognise the signs so that they can help those who have difficulties in their lives and encourage people to talk.

In budget 2012 the Government told us that €35 million had been ring-fenced for 414 mental health service staff, yet by the end of last year only 62 of those staff were in place. The Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for mental health services, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, said she was appalled by this. When will all the staff be in place, and what happened to the €35 million that was supposed to be ring-fenced for mental health services?

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