Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the allocation by her Department for the mental illness services for 2006. [39737/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The multi-annual investment programme for disability services, published last December by the Government, contains details of specific commitments regarding the provision of certain high-priority disability services, including mental health services, over the period 2006 to 2009. This programme, together with the enhancement of other support services, is a key factor in building the additional capacity required to put in place the new framework provided for in the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.

Under the multi-annual investment programme 2006, additional funding of €59 million is being made available to support and further enhance the service developments put in place as a result of the increase in the level of funding provided in 2005. A further €41 million is also being provided in 2006 to the disability and mental health services to enhance multidisciplinary support services for people with disabilities, with a particular focus on enhancing services for children.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Tánaiste launched "Reach Out: National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014" in September of this year. To oversee the implementation of this strategy, the national office for suicide prevention, NOSP, has recently been established by the HSE. An additional €1.2 million has been allocated to NOSP to support the implementation of the strategy in 2006.