Mary White (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, I met, accidentally, Professor Drumm in the corridor of Leinster House and spoke to him about my document in regard to what we can do about suicide in the new Ireland. I drew his attention, for the third time — I previously raised the matter in committee — to the fact that there are 11 suicide prevention officer positions in Ireland, three of which are vacant.

The role of the suicide prevention officers is to implement the national suicide strategy regionally and locally. The Government declared in June 2007 its intention to reduce suicide rates by 20% by 2012. How can it be expected to do so if the full complement of suicide prevention officers is not in position? I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Health and Children and her Ministers of State to ensure these positions are filled. There are 113,000 people working in the HSE at a cost of €14.5 billion per annum. Surely, the HSE can afford to fill these vacancies.