Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister is probably aware, Cork City Council last month became the first council to support a motion seeking the establishment of an all-Ireland national suicide authority. The impact of suicide across the island is dreadful. In 2011 alone, more than 1,000 citizens died as a consequence of suicide. Every town, village and community and virtually every family has been affected by this tragic crisis. The number of road deaths in 2011 stood at 245. Despite the major gap between the number of deaths caused by suicide and the number of road traffic fatalities, suicide prevention does not secure the same level of investment and resources as road safety. An island-wide national emergency is occurring in respect of suicide and it requires an island-wide emergency national response.

The Minister will agree that suicide prevention is under-resourced. Recently, in his home city of Cork, a minor who presented at Mercy University Hospital seeking assistance for mental health issues had to remain in the accident and emergency department as there was no bed available in the child and adolescent unit in Bessborough, Blackrock. The young girl had to stay in the accident and emergency department for four full days before being eventually transferred to the adult psychiatric services in St. Michael's unit where she remained for two weeks. Does the Minister agree that this is completely unacceptable, mental health services are under-resourced and the matter must be addressed immediately? Does he also agree that the national crisis requires a national, all-Ireland response?

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