Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have those exact details but I will certainly try to get them for the Deputy. I am very conscious of the distressing scenes that members have to deal with on a daily basis, from road traffic incidents to scenes of suicide, as well as dealing with situations such as those we saw two weeks ago. A number of different measures and supports have been put in place. In fact, from the first meeting I had with the Garda representative associations over three years ago, and every year that I meet with them prior to their annual conferences, this issue comes up. Every year when it comes to budget time, I engage with the Garda Commissioner to see what more can be provided. A new app has been rolled out that enables gardaí to engage confidentially to access counselling supports and other types of information and support if they do not want to engage directly with somebody. That is often a challenge and one that has been relayed to me at a very senior level. There is a feeling that some members do not want to be seen to be seeking help or counselling services. At the same time, I am conscious that there may need to be engagement of a more proactive nature, especially where somebody is dealing with particularly difficult scenes. Again, we want to make sure that we talk about it, communicate and provide the resources and funding that are needed on a continuous basis. We should not be afraid to talk about these types of issues, even if it is within an organisation that was not dealing with them in years gone by.

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