Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do. Sometimes one gets so much paper that one misses the page one should have. I have the numbers here for the 2012 mental health posts: 339 posts were filled, and in 42 cases posts have been accepted but those concerned are awaiting clearance from the Garda vetting unit. There are two positions for which candidates have been accepted and there are 20 that could not be filled in a permanent capacity, 17 of which are psychologist posts at staff grade. It will be necessary to inquire further afield to find persons of suitable experience to take up those positions.

The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, secured €35 million for mental health services staff, the majority of whom are in place. The budget for 2013 allocated a further €35 million, which will include an additional 470 posts. These will be advertised soon.

The intention is to strengthen the community mental health teams. Some will be used for advancing further suicide prevention initiatives and to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in the primary care area, specifically for people with mental health problems. Most of the recommendations in Reach Out, the national strategy for action on suicide prevention, 2005 to 2014, have been implemented such as delivering a general population approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention, using targeted programmes at those who might be in a high-risk category, delivering services to those who have inflicted self-harm and providing support to families and communities bereaved by suicide.

The annual budget for suicide prevention increased in 2012 to €12 million. Of this, €7.1 million was administered by the National Office for Suicide Prevention. The remaining €5 million was available regionally to fund resource officers for suicide prevention and self-harm liaison nurses in accident and emergency departments. A further €1 million was made available for additional mental health funding, bringing the total to €8.1 million, which includes a special programme of measures. I will have these figures forwarded to Deputies.

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