John Gilroy (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs who is finding it very difficult to leave us today. Perhaps it is because of the previous position she held.

I wish to draw the Minister's attention to the situation in Cork city and county which has huge implications for public policy at national level. The reason I am bringing it to the attention of the House is not only that I am from Cork but that the project about which I intend to speak has been piloted there. I intend to devote a significant portion of my time in the House to raising awareness of this issue in the next five years or however long we have here.

The Minister and the Leas-Chathaoirleach might agree the issue of suicide probably presents the single greatest challenge facing our community. The figures are truly appalling, with the latest figures for 2009 showing that 527 people died by suicide. Many of those who work in this area consider the actual figure to be much higher than that reported. Analysis of the figures shows the incidence of suicide is higher in some counties than in others, particularly among young men. For example, the incidence of suicide in Cork is of great concern, with the rate standing more than 50% higher than the national average. The figures for counties Tipperary, Cavan, Wexford and Carlow are also high.

In 2009 there was an increase of approximately 27% on the suicide figures for the previous year. The HSE stated the figures reflected an international trend whereby the number of people who took their own lives during times of economic recession increased. Tragically, this means we can expect to see an increase in the suicide rate for 2010 and 2011 when figures for these years are reported. When we speak about suicide, we must keep in mind that behind each of the figures is a personal tragedy for individuals, families and entire communities. Perhaps on another day we can find time for a full debate on this matter because it is merited.

One of the agencies recognised by the Department as an official research unit is the National Suicide Research Foundation which is also recognised as a centre of excellence by the World Health Organization. As well as providing support for those bereaved by suicide, an important element of its work involves the collection of up-to-date information. Normally, we rely on the CSO to provide this information, but the publication of CSO information runs two years behind; therefore, figures for this year will not be available until the middle or end of 2013.

The National Suicide Research Foundation has developed a suicide support and information system which works with the Coroner's Court and bereaved families to identify the incidence and patterns of suicide. Since the beginning of the programme in 2008, 183 cases of suicide and death of undetermined intent have been included. From looking at patterns of suicide which the system has been devised to do we know that in certain circumstances the occurrence of suicide among a particular cohort may give rise to the emergence of a suicide cluster. The suicide support and information system can detect such patterns at an early stage, which is particularly important when dealing with cases involving young men. If emerging clusters can be identified at an early stage, intervention strategies can be put in place. These include counselling and other supports for those closely affected by suicide. This can reduce and has been shown to reduce the likelihood of a suicide cluster developing. The system has been validated by an international association of suicidology and is a proven lifesaver. The annual cost of maintaining the programme in Cork on a pilot basis is €75,000. It is funded by the HSE. Remarkably, at a time when there has been an increase in the incidence of suicide, the HSE which acknowledges the rate of increase is likely to accelerate has cut funding for the programme.

If we are resolved, as I hope we are, to tackling in a serious manner this problem which some commentators refer to as an epidemic, we need to find and identify working strategies. Having done so, we need to provide resources for them. The suicide support and information system is working and has saved lives. However, the funding for it has been cut and it is no longer able to function. In the Minister's opinion, what is the likelihood of funding being restored to this initiative?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. I thank the Senator for raising it.

The annual budget for the National Office for Suicide Prevention in 2011 is €4.2 million which includes an additional €1 million provided this year to enable the office to build on initiatives taken to date and bring added momentum and new impetus to activities to address the increasing incidence of suicide. The additional funding will enable the office to target priority areas, particularly new or emerging groups vulnerable to suicide or self-harm.

As I am sure the Senator will appreciate, at a time when the number of deaths by suicide is rising, there are increasing demands on the budget of the National Office for Suicide Prevention. The initiatives funded by it include the development and implementation of national training programmes. Since 2004 approximately 22,500 people have been trained under the two-day applied suicide intervention skills training, ASIST, programme which is internationally recognised. SafeTALK, a half-day training programme that prepares participants to identify persons with thoughts of suicide, has been provided for approximately 3,000 participants. Other initiatives include the development of a media monitoring mechanism; the availability of self-harm services through hospital emergency departments; implementing recommendations arising from a review of bereavement services; supporting 15 voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention; developing mental health awareness campaigns such asYour Mental Health and Let Someone Know which is aimed at young people.

In 2008 the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention commissioned the National Suicide Research Foundation to pilot a suicide support and information system. The objective of this initiative is to prevent deaths by suicide by facilitating access to support for the bereaved while at the same time obtaining information on risk factors associated with suicide and deaths classified as open verdicts, which is in line with the Reach Out and A Vision for Change strategies. The initiative has since been piloted in close collaboration with the coroners in Cork city and county. Following a coroner's inquest, information on confirmed cases of suicide and undetermined deaths is obtained and bereaved family members receive information on suitable support services, if required. Since the start of the project 183 cases of suicide and deaths of undetermined intent have been included in the research.

The National Office for Suicide Prevention funded the initiative on a pilot basis between 2008 and 2010. However, given the increasing demands on its budget and the need to focus on service provision as opposed to research, the office is not in a position to continue to provide funding beyond the pilot phase. The annual cost of maintaining the suicide support and information system in County Cork with three coroners is €75,000, and a national roll-out of the initiative would cost significantly more. In this context, it should be noted that the National Suicide Research Foundation already receives approximately 20% - €800,000 - of the budget of the national office, so research is being done and supported at national level. Some €500,000 of this is to administer the national registry for deliberate self-harm and €300,000 is to undertake core research projects. Much research is being done in this area and it is being funded.

Mental health and suicide prevention is a priority. Some €35 million has been ring-fenced from within the health budget to develop community mental health teams and services and to implement Reach Out to ensure early access to more appropriate services for both adults and children. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is working with officials in the Department of Health and the HSE to deliver further progress in this area. She was not in a position to take this Adjournment matter but I have no doubt this will be brought to her attention and I will do so also.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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I thank the Minister for her very thorough response and acknowledge the amount of work done at departmental and agency levels and among the voluntary community. I am disappointed we cannot find money to continue this lifesaving programme. Part of the programme has a research function but there is a practical element to it also. It is a local on-the-ground service. Suicide clusters are being identified and as a direct result, strategies are being put in place. I am disappointed we cannot find the funding but acknowledge the ongoing commitment of the Government to this area and the continuing investment it is making in it.