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<title>Dan Neville - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:20+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g476.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g476.0</link>
	<description>I am concerned that the Government&acirc;��s approach to the provision of mental health services is such that it will be confined to the bottom of bundle of matters to be addressed on the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="476.1">I am concerned that the Government’s approach to the provision of mental health services is such that it will be confined to the bottom of bundle of matters to be addressed on the Government’s desk.  In his Supplementary Budget Statement, the Minister for Finance said:</p><p pid="476.2">I will terminate the property-related accelerated capital allowance schemes in the health sector.  This scheme covers private hospitals, registered nursing homes, convalescent houses and associated residential units as well as mental health centres.</p><p pid="476.3">I have two questions for the Government, which I am sure the Minister of State, having regard to his portfolio, would not be in a position to answer.  How much has been allocated for capital allowances on mental health centres?  How many mental health centres have been funded through that means?  I know of none.  I welcome the fact that schemes for palliative care units and child care facilities will remain in place.  I respectfully suggest that the schemes for mental health centres and the private mental health institutions, if they were developed, should remain in place, as well as the two other schemes I mentioned, to support the delivery of mental health services.  The private sector has not been involved in the mental health sector in the way it has been involved in the general health services.  In terms of the need for places and the availability of them in other institutions, the relationship between HSE public sector mental health institutions and private institutions and the non-profit institutions has been non-existent.</p><p pid="476.4">In regard to services for the elderly, the HSE contracts out beds for the elderly in private nursing homes.  Such an arrangement can work well.  Periods of respite care are also provided in private nursing homes.  That also works well.  Some 28 beds lie idle today in St. Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin, the non-profit psychiatric hospital, while there are waiting lists for psychiatric care.  Has the Minister for Health and Children and the Health Service Executive considered contracting beds from the psychiatric services to provide for people on those waiting lists similar to the arrangement that operates in the general health services?  There seems to be a barrier to doing that.  I do not believe that has ever been explored and now the Minister for Finance has said that the property-related accelerated capital allowance schemes for mental health centres will be terminated.  I would like a response to that; a letter from the Health Service Executive in the next week would suffice, that would indicate the number of mental health centres that have been allocated capital allowances under the scheme and the cost involved.  I believe it will probably be nil.  If that transpires to be the case, I question why the allowance schemes are being abolished.</p><p pid="476.5">I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health and Children in the past ten days on the percentage of the total health budget the allocation for mental health services for 2009 represents.  I was informed it is 6.7% of the total.  Bearing in mind that one in four people at some stage in his or her life will suffer a mental health need, that allocation is abysmal and a disgrace.  It is neglectful of those who have a psychiatric illness and their families that only 6.7% of the total health budget is allocated for mental health services, bearing in mind that in the 1960s the allocation was 25% of the health budget and in the 1980s it was 18%.  In England and Wales, 12% of the total health budget is allocated to psychiatric services and in Scotland the allocation in that respect is 18%.  With our allocation of only 6.7%, we are ignoring the needs in this area.</p><p pid="476.6">I draw these percentages to the attention of the Minister, following the debate that has taken place on the supplementary budget.  Is there any point of raising this issue any more with the Government?  Is there any hope of a response from the Government to the needs of those suffering from a psychiatric condition and their families?  In times of plenty we raised this issue repeatedly and got little or no response.  Will the Government at least say to me there is no point in continuing to raise this issue because in the current climate the provision for psychiatric services will be ignored?</p><p pid="476.7">Last Friday a report of the Committee of Inquiry to Review Care and Treatment Practices in St. Michael’s Unit, South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel and St. Luke’s Hospital, Clonmel, including the Quality and Planning of Care and the Use of Restraint and Seclusion, which reported to the Mental Health Commission, was published.  If this publication was made in any other area of the health services, there would be a furore over it by everybody including the press and there would be Government statements and responses to it.  The Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, in his statement in response to it said that he accepted most of the criticisms of it.</p><p pid="476.8">I listened to an interesting comment on the report by Fergus Finlay on the radio programme “Drivetime”, which encapsulated the views of those of us who have read the report.  It is a complex report running to some 196 pages and one has to read through it to get the salient points.  In his contribution Fergus Finlay spoke about what the reaction to this publication would be if it were about cats and dogs suffering from cruelty in Ireland, caged up for weeks on end with no company, never allowed fresh air or exercise, with their pens not properly cleaned out and the animals dosed with drugs to keep them quiet.  He went on to say that if it had happened in a cats and dogs institution, the story would have exploded all over the news and excited a good deal of anger.  He said we would all want to know who was responsible and the Garda would investigate the conditions in which the animals were kept, especially if they were injured.  He referred to a news story last week that featured prominently in some newspapers, while it was tucked away in others, about the treatment of psychiatric patients in that institution.  It was aired on the RTE News at 6 p.m. but not at 9 p.m.</p><p pid="476.9">The Mental Health Commission’s investigation of this undermines any claim that we are a civilised society, given that we treat human beings in the manner as outlined in the report.  One cannot read the report and conclude that those people’s lives matter to anybody in authority, whether the Minister for Health and Children, the Department or its agencies.  A report published in 2004 highlighted an unusual pattern of injuries to patients.  There were many fractures, the incidence of which was highest among local hospitals.  These were unidentified non-accidental bone breakages which were detected later in X-rays.</p><p pid="476.10">I ask the Minister of State whether the Government will respond to the issues I have raised.  When the Dáil returns it should give an hour or two of Government time to discuss the report in detail so that the relevant agencies in the Health Service Executive can respond, and the Minister, Deputy Harney, the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, if he is <i> in situ</i>, or whoever, can make a statement on the matter the House.  All parties should acknowledge that this type of treatment of human beings is unacceptable and should not happen in a civilised society.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g474.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g474.0</link>
	<description>No.  I understand we will each have ten minutes.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="474.1">No.  I understand we will each have ten minutes.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g472.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g472.0</link>
	<description>I wish to share my time with Deputies Breen and Durkan.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="472.1">I wish to share my time with Deputies Breen and Durkan.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g470.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g470.0</link>
	<description>What did he do?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="470.1">What did he do?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g467.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g467.0</link>
	<description>It is not made up of 84 people like the Government&acirc;��s one.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="467.1">It is not made up of 84 people like the Government’s one.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g465.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.458.0&amp;m=602#g465.0</link>
	<description>They were told to resign.  What is the difference?  The Taoiseach brought them all in and told them to resign.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="465.1">They were told to resign.  What is the difference?  The Taoiseach brought them all in and told them to resign.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=602#g544.0">
	<title>Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=602#g544.0</link>
	<description>I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion.  I wish to look at the psychological and emotional difficulties for people who have been rendered unemployed.  There are pressures within the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="544.1">I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion.  I wish to look at the psychological and emotional difficulties for people who have been rendered unemployed.  There are pressures within the family, within life itself and personal pressures such as self-esteem due to concerns about the future.  There has been an 85% increase in requests for emergency welfare assistance, which shows how deep and how difficult the situation has become.  The fact that there is a 35% increase in the number of people seeking support from MABS highlights the difficulties that have developed within society.  There are currently more than 9,600 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, which is an increase of 134% on the figure at the end of 2007.  It is extremely concerning that 276 people were jailed last year for failing to repay debts, many of whom failed to pay loans to credit providers.</p><p pid="544.2">The issue I want to raise is the difficulty and stress experienced by people who have been rendered unemployed.  It is very stressful to be made unemployed, and this is particularly the case for young men and men in middle age.  People see employment as their status within their community.  The first thing a person is asked is where he or she is from, and the second thing asked is what he or she does for a living.  A person who has been employed for a number of years can find it extremely stressful to be made unemployed.  Financial difficulty is another issue that causes extreme stress to the person and his or her family.  This is especially the case when it comes to foreclosures and the threat of losing one’s home.  The home is seen as the primary investment and makes a statement about the person.</p><p pid="544.4">International research has shown that unemployment, financial difficulty and home foreclosures have led to an increase in the rates of suicide.  American psychologists have coined the phrase “econocide” to explain a wave of suicides that have been caused by the current recession in that country.  There is a need to invest in the suicide prevention policies and the 12.5% cut on the €4.5 million grant to the National Suicide Prevention Office is an absolute disgrace.  The Minister for Social and Family Affairs allocated €11 million to families to deal with family crises as a result of the economic crisis, yet at the same time the Government is ignoring the fact that there will be a higher level of psychiatric difficulties, suicide and self harm among family members.  Why not deal with both issues, as they arise equally within families?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.100.0&amp;m=602#g125.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.100.0&amp;m=602#g125.0</link>
	<description>Tipperary Town.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="125.1">Tipperary Town.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.95.0&amp;m=602#g98.0">
	<title>Requests to move Adjournment of D&Atilde;&iexcl;il under Standing Order 32 | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.95.0&amp;m=602#g98.0</link>
	<description>I seek the adjournment of D&Atilde;&iexcl;il &Atilde;�ireann under Standing Order 32 to raise an important matter of national interest, namely, the need to publish immediately, as promised by the Minister for Health...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="98.1">I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 32 to raise an important matter of national interest, namely, the need to publish immediately, as promised by the Minister for Health and Children, the Mental Health Commission’s report into the care and treatment practices at St. Michael’s unit, South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, and St. Luke’s Psychiatric Hospital, Clonmel, including the quality and planning of care and the use of restraint and seclusion and to report to the Mental Health Commission.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=602#g420.0">
	<title>Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=602#g420.0</link>
	<description>I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate.  I also wish to raise the issue of farm incomes which are under serious downward pressure in 2009.  It is important to flag this issue...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="420.1">I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate.  I also wish to raise the issue of farm incomes which are under serious downward pressure in 2009.  It is important to flag this issue prior to the budget to ensure the Minister responds to the needs of the agricultural industry which has served this country since the foundation of the State and before and has supported many farm families.  Unfortunately there have been many changes in recent decades but the current situation is dire, and I wish to raise our concerns with the Minister.  </p><p pid="420.2">The Central Statistics Office figures for February 2009 show that national farm income was down by about 12.4% in 2008.  The main factors which affected farm income last year were significantly increased input costs coupled with a fall in output prices for key sectors, including dairying, which is of enormous significance to the economy of my constituency in County Limerick.  Dairying is very prominent in the area and contributes significantly to the economic wellbeing of the constituency.</p><p pid="420.3">Farm incomes are projected to fall significantly further this year with major and sustained downward pressures across the major commodities.  For example, producer prices in the dairying sector have dropped below the cost of production and even the most efficient producers will generate little or no income from their production in 2009.  The situation needs urgent attention in that the intervention prices of milk at the current level of 20 cent to 21 cent per litre is inadequate to give any return to the dairying community producing it.  The effective intervention viable price is around 27 cent to 28 cent.  I ask the Minister to examine this with a view to ensuring the survival of the dairying industry.</p><p pid="420.4">The previous speaker referred to the problems affecting the co-ops and I reiterate that the absence of working capital has created enormous pressures for the dairy co-ops especially at peak times. The Minister should endeavour to ensure there is a response by the banks to the needs of the dairying industry.</p><p pid="420.5">The depreciation of sterling against the euro and the retail price war have also impacted on the return to the dairy farmer.  I also wish to raise the issue of the mark-up on farm products by the supermarkets.  The various farming organisations, especially the two with which I deal regularly, the Irish Farmers’ Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association, over a number of decades have raised the issue of the mark-up price, the price to the farmer of produce leaving the farm gate and the cost to the customer in supermarkets.  With the present downturn in the dairying sector being an issue, prices for cattle, vegetables and other commodities are falling, due to a large extent to the depreciation of sterling against the euro.  The Government decision in last October’s budget to cut funding for essential farm schemes also adds significantly to the fall in farm incomes this year.  While input prices have turned down, this has not matched the downturn in producer prices.  It is estimated that due to a combination of falling prices and the October 2008 budget cuts, farm income in 2009 is set to fall at least by another 12.5%.  Based on the current outlook, farm income could drop below an average income of €20,000 for a full-time farmer and to below €16,000 for a part-time farmer.</p><p pid="420.6">Employment in the agricultural sector has proven more resilient to the downturn than other sectors.  During 2008, employment in agriculture fell from 118,000 to 116,000, a drop of only 2,000.  This is in marked contrast to the significant fall in employment in other sectors.  The numbers in the agricultural sector can be maintained and sustained and increased.  With the right support from Government, there is an opportunity here to ensure that the numbers employed in agriculture can be sustained and increased.</p><p pid="420.7">The absence of alternative employment in construction will result in a return to farming for a large number of young people. Family farms have simply no more to give as incomes are under serious pressure and any further cuts in farm schemes will be a direct hit on already low farm family incomes.  I am flagging the Minister that the cuts in the last budget were highly significant for the small farmers, the small to middle income producers and any further cuts in the forthcoming budget will have very serious consequences for the livelihoods of those in the agricultural community.</p><p pid="420.8">Farm families are facing increased income pressures in 2009 and require all existing EU and national supports to be retained in order to remain viable.  The majority of these schemes are co-funded by the EU and are vital to farm incomes, and farmers have made their investment plans and bank repayments commitments on the basis of their continuation.  To preserve jobs in the sector, to help maintain family farm incomes at a viable level and to keep families out of the social welfare system, the Government must avoid further cuts in essential farm schemes.</p><p pid="420.9">A number of cuts in farm schemes were introduced in the previous budget and these will impact directly on farm incomes this year.  At public meetings, concerned farmers raised three areas of concern, namely, the suspension of the EU support measures to promote structural reform and encourage new entrants — the early retirement scheme and the installation aid scheme — the cutback of €34 million in the disadvantaged areas scheme which represents a significant loss for the 37,000 farmers affected — these are not middle income farmers but low income farmers — and the cutbacks in the new payment rate for the new suckler cow welfare scheme.  The decision to suspend entry to the early retirement scheme and installation aid scheme must be reversed as the long-term cost to the economy will be greater than any short-term savings achieved.  A number of farm families had bona fide plans in place to avail of these schemes.</p><p pid="420.10">In this April budget I urge the Government to make provision to fully discharge its responsibilities to these farm families.  This is an issue which raises its head again and again when we meet the people involved.  These farm families had plans in place and had expenditure completed in order to avail of the schemes referred to and when the schemes were cut it left them at a great disadvantage.  I urge the Minister for Finance to make provision in the budget to fully discharge what I believe is the Government’s responsibility to these farm families.  The cutbacks in the payment rate for the disadvantaged areas scheme will disproportionately affect lower income farmers and must be reversed.  The €80 rate per cow for the suckler cow welfare scheme must be maintained and the €250 million allocated to the scheme must be honoured.</p><p pid="420.11">The Minister for Health and Children has decided to cut the allocation to the National Suicide Prevention Office by 12.5%.  This is a retrograde step at a time of recession.  International research from 1897 has shown that there is an increase in suicide and psychiatric and other emotional conditions.  We would urge the Minister to respond to that need and increase the funding.  We again refer to the precedent exercised by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Mary Hanafin, who has given in the region of €11 million extra to families to deal with the interpersonal crises in relation to people affected by the recession, particularly those who have been rendered unemployed.  The unemployed are six times more likely to take their own lives than those in employment, and the young and middle-aged have a higher propensity to commit suicide in those circumstances than other groups.  I appreciate the time I was allowed by the Ceann Comhairle to raise these two issues.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.379.0&amp;m=602#g380.9">
	<title>Suicide Prevention. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.379.0&amp;m=602#g380.9</link>
	<description>I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me an opportunity to raise the important issue of the level of suicide during recessionary periods. A report appeared last week in the press about a...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="380.2">I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me an opportunity to raise the important issue of the level of suicide during recessionary periods.</p><p pid="380.3">A report appeared last week in the press about a reduction of 12.5% in the allocation by the National Office for Suicide Prevention to the voluntary organisations involved in suicide prevention and suicide bereavement.  We understand there was also a cut in funding to the National Office for Suicide Prevention that will affect its work on the implementation of the recommendations of Reach Out, the recommendations of the expert group on suicide prevention and suicide issues and other reports, including A Vision for Change and the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Suicide Prevention.</p><p pid="380.4">Research into suicide since the 1890s shows there is an increase in suicide rates and mental illness during times of economic recession.  The Minister for Health and Children should recognise and accept this and ensure that adequate resources are available to respond to the needs that exist.  We suggest that an additional €10 million should be allocated to the National Office for Suicide Prevention.  It received €4.5 million in 2008 and given the cuts that are being made, it will receive less than that this year.</p><p pid="380.5">There is a precedent for this approach.  In November 2008, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs allocated approximately €11 million in additional funding to provide for a range of marriage, child and bereavement counselling services and supports to help families to cope through the difficult times they face as a result of the recession.  I have a list of the 29 organisations that received substantial support from that allocation.  We urge the Minister for Health and Children to respond in a similar fashion to the challenges arising for mental health and suicide prevention services.</p><p pid="380.6">Economic strain and personal financial crises have been well documented as precipitating events in individual deaths by suicide.  Stressful life events, financial and otherwise, have a significant impact on those vulnerable to suicide where typical coping mechanisms are compromised by the effects of mental disorder, substance abuse, acute psychiatric symptoms and the other risk factors associated with suicide.  We have already seen several suicides that can be attributed to the difficulties and pressures arising from economic changes.  Increasing unemployment leads to an increase in the suicide rate.  Unemployment has a profound effect on a person, especially the young and those in middle age.</p><p pid="380.7">Irish society awards status and prestige according to a person’s position and contribution to work.  Correspondingly, unemployment is associated with loss of face and prestige, a lack of self-esteem and confusion and concern about the future for individuals and their families.  The unemployed are six times more likely to suffer from a psychiatric disorder than those in employment.  Studies show that those who die of suicide are significantly more likely to have experienced unemployment, job instability or occupational problems.  The Kelleher-Daly study in Cork, conducted during the economic recession of the 1980s, showed that of the male deaths by suicide analysed in that study, two-thirds involved men who were out of work at the time of their deaths.</p><p pid="380.8">The high rate and threat of home foreclosure is of particular concern.  For most Irish people, our homes are our primary investment and the focus of our identity.  When combined with loss of employment, home loss or the threat of it, has been found to be one of the most common economic strains associated with suicides.  I urge the Minister to respond immediately to the psychological, emotional and psychiatric difficulties affecting people as a result of the changed economic times.</p><p pid="380.9">Perhaps the Minister of State will clarify the situation.  I raised this matter earlier with the Minister for Health and Children and she denied there were any cuts to the national suicide prevention office.  She stated there was in excess of €2 million extra funding for suicide issues in 2009.  We need clarification in that regard because there is confusion about what is available to the office.  The message we have got is that there is a cut of 12.5%, but the message from the Minister is there is an increase of €2 million.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g298.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g298.0</link>
	<description>Will there be a cut to voluntary organisations?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="298.1">Will there be a cut to voluntary organisations?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g296.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g296.0</link>
	<description>I am not being specific.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="296.1">I am not being specific.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g294.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g294.0</link>
	<description>Will there be cuts in funding to voluntary organisations?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="294.1">Will there be cuts in funding to voluntary organisations?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g292.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g292.0</link>
	<description>What about the voluntary organisations?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="292.1">What about the voluntary organisations?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g290.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g290.0</link>
	<description>It will not be answered on the Adjournment debate.  There will be a pre-written reply.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="290.1">It will not be answered on the Adjournment debate.  There will be a pre-written reply.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g288.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g288.0</link>
	<description>Does the Minister accept the research I quoted earlier on the increase in suicide levels during periods of recession?  Research going back to the 1890s by Emile Durkheim shows there is an...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="288.1">Does the Minister accept the research I quoted earlier on the increase in suicide levels during periods of recession?  Research going back to the 1890s by Emile Durkheim shows there is an increase in suicide during recessionary periods.  Does the Minister accept that is the case and that provision must be made to deal with it?  What, if any, will be the cuts in funding to the National Office for Suicide Prevention in the 2009 budget?  If there are cuts, will they be in the operation of its direct services and what level of cuts will there be to the voluntary organisations funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g257.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g257.0</link>
	<description>The Minister has cut it to all organisations.  An instruction was given to the National Office for Suicide Prevention, and it appeared in the press last week.  I have researched the matter and I...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="257.1">The Minister has cut it to all organisations.  An instruction was given to the National Office for Suicide Prevention, and it appeared in the press last week.  I have researched the matter and I am informed that this is the case.</p><p pid="257.2">Research into suicide since the 1890s shows there is an increase in suicide rates and mental illness during times of economic recession.  Instead of cutting the level of funding to the National Office for Suicide Prevention, the Minister should emulate the action of the Minister, Deputy Mary Hanafin, and increase the funding by €10 million to allow the office to respond to the need that inevitably exists due to the recession and the increase in unemployment.  Economic strain and personal financial crisis have been well documented as precipitating events in individual deaths by suicide.  Research has been conducted in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe on this.  Stressful life events, financial and otherwise, have a significant impact on those who are vulnerable to suicide where typical coping mechanisms are compromised by the effects of mental disorder, substance abuse, acute psychiatric symptoms and the other risk factors associated with suicide.  There have already been several suicides that can be attributed to the difficulties and pressures arising from the current economic changes.</p><p pid="257.3">Increasing unemployment leads to an increase in suicide rates.  Unemployment has a profound effect on the person, especially on the young and middle aged.  Irish society still awards status and prestige according to a person’s position and contribution to work.  Correspondingly, unemployment is associated with loss of face and of prestige.  This is compounded by the fact that we are emerging from a period when people had an expectation of high levels of income and high standards of living.  Many professional people, along with people from other socio-economic groups, are losing employment and their expectations for their futures are destroyed.  The level of pressure on them is accentuated due to the level of income and economic activity they experienced during the years of the Celtic tiger economy.</p><p pid="257.4">The unemployed are six times more likely to suffer from a psychiatric disorder than people in employment.  Studies show that those who die of suicide are significantly more likely to have experienced unemployment, job instability or occupational problems.  The Kelleher-Daly study conducted in Cork during the economic recession in the 1980s showed that of the male deaths by suicide analysed, two thirds involved men who were out of work at the time of their deaths.</p><p pid="257.5">The high rate of home foreclosures is of particular concern.  There have been studies conducted in the United States with regard to suicide levels and their relationship to home foreclosures.  For most Irish people, their homes are their primary investment and the locus of their identities and social support systems.  When combined with loss of employment, home loss or the threat of home loss has been found to be one of the most common economic strains associated with suicide.  While there is a moratorium on foreclosures on the part of some of the banks, newspapers reported today that the courts yesterday approved nine home foreclosures.  The Minister has decided banks should not move to foreclose for a period of time, but the threat of what will happen their homes after 12 months will have a serious effect on the psychological well-being of people in those circumstances.</p><p pid="257.6">The Minister must immediately respond to the psychological, emotional and psychiatric difficulties affecting people as a result of the changed economic times.  In doing so, she must recognise the need to enable the National Office for Suicide Prevention to respond adequately to the inevitable growing demand for its services.  Dr. John Connolly, secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidology, stated recently in a newspaper interview that despite the shrinking public finances, it is vital that the Government invests more in suicide prevention and mental health services to reduce the number of deaths.  He said: “We must be aware of the fact that research reaching back to that of Emile Durkheim in the 1890s shows that in times of recession, suicide rates inevitably increase.”  He told a meeting of the Oireachtas sub-committee on the high level of suicide in Ireland: “Unfortunately, this will happen in the coming months and years unless we ensure that funding for the implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy and other services is guaranteed.”</p><p pid="257.7">I ask the Minister to respond to that point.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g255.0">
	<title>Challenges facing the Health Service: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.244.0&amp;m=602#g255.0</link>
	<description>I wish to refer to a matter of concern that arose last week, namely, a cut of 12.5% in the funding provided to the National Office for Suicide Prevention.  The voluntary organisations which work...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="255.1">I wish to refer to a matter of concern that arose last week, namely, a cut of 12.5% in the funding provided to the National Office for Suicide Prevention.  The voluntary organisations which work in this area and which receive funding from that office will be affected by this cut.  In addition, it will give rise to a diminution in the work carried out by the office.</p><p pid="255.2">I wish to comment on the approach adopted by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin, in respect of the stresses caused by the downturn in the economy.  Levels of suicide and psychiatric illness, particularly depression, increase during recessionary periods.  In addition, during such times the level of suicide among those who are unemployed is higher than that among those who are in employment.</p><p pid="255.3">It is my intention to contrast the decision of the HSE to reduce funding to the National Office for Suicide Prevention with the approach of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin, who allocated an additional €11 million in order to deal with the new stresses that are having an impact on family life.  The Minister for Social and Family Affairs recently stated that there is now, more than ever, a need to ensure that quality services are available in order to help families which may be experiencing new pressures and stresses in their lives.  In that context, we must recall that people are coming under psychological and emotional pressure and that there has been an increase in the incidence of suicide.</p><p pid="255.4">Rather than emulating the approach taken by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, the Minister for Health and Children and the HSE have decided to reduce the funding available to the National Office for Suicide Prevention.  The former Minister also stated:</p><p pid="255.5">The difficult economic situation being experienced throughout the country is filtering into the lives and homes of families throughout Ireland.  Where a person loses their job or has their working hours cut back, this financial strain can lead to pressures in relationships.</p><p pid="255.6">The Minister for Health and Children must recognise that pressure also comes to bear on the mental health and well-being of people affected by the downturn.  Why is this area of pressure being ignored?  In fact, there is a reduction in funding in this regard.  Another Minister, Deputy Hanafin, recognises the pressures that arise within a family.  She spoke about having a network of support services available throughout the country to provide marriage and relationship counselling services, which is the core part of helping families to cope with the problems with which they are confronted.  In her press release she identified up to 20 organisations for which she had significantly increased the Department’s contribution.  However, the Minister for Health and Children has cut funding for suicide prevention by 12.5%.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-04.995.0&amp;m=602#g1027.0">
	<title>Public Finances: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-04.995.0&amp;m=602#g1027.0</link>
	<description>Research into suicide since the 1890s shows there is an increase in suicide rates and mental illness during times of economic recession.  I call on the Minister for Health and Children and the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1027.1">Research into suicide since the 1890s shows there is an increase in suicide rates and mental illness during times of economic recession.  I call on the Minister for Health and Children and the Health Service Executive to respond to the challenges that arise in this regard in the current economic crisis.  There should be an immediate allocation of an additional €10 million to the National Suicide Prevention Office to allow it to respond to the suicide prevention challenges of society’s changed circumstances.</p><p pid="1027.2">There is a precedent for this.  In November 2008, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs allocated almost €11 million in additional funding to provide for a range of marriage, child and bereavement counselling services and supports to help families to cope through the difficult times they face as a result of the recession.  The Minister for Health and Children must now respond in a similar fashion to the challenges arising for mental health and suicide prevention services.</p><p pid="1027.3">Economic strain and personal financial crises have been well documented as precipitating events in individual deaths by suicide.  Stressful life events, financial and otherwise, have a significant impact on those vulnerable to suicide where typical coping mechanisms are compromised by the effects of mental disorder, substance use, acute psychiatric symptoms and the other risk factors associated with suicide.  We have already seen several suicides that can be attributed to the difficulties and pressures arising from economic changes.</p><p pid="1027.4">Increasing unemployment leads to an increase in the suicide rate.  Unemployment has a profound effect on a person, especially the young and on those in middle age.  Irish society awards status and prestige according to a person’s position and contribution to work.  Correspondingly, unemployment is associated with loss of face and of prestige.  The unemployed are six times more likely to suffer from a psychiatric disorder than those in employment.  Studies show that those who die of suicide are significantly more likely to have experienced unemployment, job instability or occupational problems.  The Kelleher-Daly study conducted in Cork during the economic recession of the 1980s showed that of the male deaths by suicide analysed, two thirds involved men who were out of work at the time of their deaths.</p><p pid="1027.5">The high rate and threat of home foreclosures is of particular concern.  For most Irish people, our homes are our primary investment and the locus of our identities and social support systems.  When combined with loss of employment, home loss or the threat of home loss has been found to be one of the most common economic strains associated with suicides.  The Minister for Health and Children must immediately respond to the psychological, emotional and psychiatric difficulties affecting people as a result of the changed economic times.  In doing so, she must recognise the need to enable the National Suicide Prevention Office to respond adequately to the inevitably growing demand for its services.</p><p pid="1027.6">Dr. John Connolly, secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidology, stated recently in a newspaper interview that despite the shrinking public finances, it is vital that the Government invests more in suicide prevention and mental health services in order to reduce the number of deaths.  He stated:</p><p pid="1027.7">We must be aware of the fact that research reaching back to that of Emile Durkheim in the 1890s shows that in times of recession, suicide rates inevitably increase.</p><p pid="1027.8">As Dr. Connolly told a meeting of the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the High Level of Suicide in Ireland:</p><p pid="1027.9">Unfortunately, this will happen in Ireland in the coming months and years unless we ensure that funding for the implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy and other services is guaranteed.</p><p pid="1027.10">I ask the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to examine what her counterpart in the Department of Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin, has done in response to the changed economic circumstances.  The Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children must respond in a like fashion.  We are not asking for the €25 million per annum that has been recommended for mental illness treatment services.  Rather, we call for a specific allocation of €10 million to the National Suicide Prevention Office in order to support groups working throughout the State to help those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts.  The Government must ensure that people in crisis are encouraged to seek help and are pointed towards the appropriate help.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-04T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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