Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 241: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress of the national suicide review group in the implementation of the recommendations of the national task force on suicide; and if she will make a statement on the group's contribution to suicide prevention. [10496/05]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 242: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the annual budget for each year since its inception of the national suicide review group. [10503/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.

In response to the recommendations of the report of the national task force on suicide, which was published in 1998, the national suicide review group was established by the chief executive officers of the health boards. Membership of the group includes experts in the areas of mental health, public health and research. The main responsibilities of the group are to review ongoing trends in suicide and parasuicide, to co-ordinate research into suicide and to make appropriate recommendations to the Health Service Executive. The group also liaises with the suicide resource officers in each region.

The annual report of the national suicide review group meets the requirement of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 that the Minister for Health and Children will report annually on the measures taken by health boards to prevent suicides in the previous year. The report outlines the measures taken to help prevent suicide and reduce the impact of suicidal behaviour; facilitates the sharing of information regarding suicide prevention projects; and provides accurate and current information on the patterns of death by suicide in Ireland.

Additional revenue funding was provided by my Department to the national suicide review group since it was established as follows: 1999 —€63,000; 2000 —€127,000; 2002 —€63,000; and 2003 —€50,000.

Work is now under way on the preparation of a national strategy for action on suicide prevention, which will be published later this year.