Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First of all, I thank the Deputy for the question and for the very constructive and non-partisan manner in which he has raised the issue. This is an extremely important issue that always has to command the full attention of the House across all political persuasions. Families and communities the length and breadth of the country have been affected by suicide. It is important to continue to raise awareness and to speak openly about mental health. That is important within our education curriculum and outside of our education curriculum.

The Connecting for Life strategy is Ireland's national suicide reduction strategy. It aims to reduce suicide and self-harm rates across society and in priority groups. We have the National Office for Suicide Prevention within the HSE. It was established to co-ordinate suicide reduction efforts around the country and to implement the strategy. Funding has increased on an annual basis, but it is not just about funding alone. It is about the proper delivery of services and co-ordination. Suicide prevention funding would have gone up progressively from about €3 million ten years ago to about €13 million or so now. Also, the National Office for Suicide Prevention works with the non-governmental and community sector in particular and with the HSE in an advisory role. About 20 partner non-governmental organisations are involved and 54% of the funding would go to those non-governmental organisations - groups like Pieta House, the Samaritans, Suicide or Survive and the Family Resource Centres.

It has been a while coming, but about 24 of the 26 emergency departments now have access to a mental health professional at all times, I am informed, through liaison mental health services based in acute hospitals or the national clinical programme for the management of self-harm in emergency departments.

That is important. In addition, prior to the pandemic, community mental health teams provided access to a seven-day per week mental health service. This is still in place and available for existing mental health service users in a blended format in compliance with Covid-19 restrictions. The seven-day telehealth service includes the crisis text line 50808, yourmentalhealth.ie, the information line 1800111888 and NGO partners' online supports.

Access and traffic to all of those services has increased during the Covid-19 period and we have an extra obligation to do more now during this period and its aftermath to support people, and young people in particular. That is why an education and well-being initiative, as part of funding that was allocated in the return of schools during the Covid-19 period, is focusing on the mental well-being of young people.

See this speech in context