Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there has been discussion in relation to allocating moneys from the Dormant Accounts Fund towards projects that provide suicide prevention supports such as Teenline in this Deputy's constituency. [7777/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Funding to assist suicide prevention initiatives was one of the priority funding measures approved by Government for support from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006. In this regard, details concerning the allocation of almost €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support twenty suicide prevention projects were announced on 23 October 2006.

The key objective of this funding measure is to provide interventions and supports to strengthen community based initiatives, particularly, although not exclusively, those targeting young men under 35 years of age. The intention of the funding is to support locally based initiatives supporting suicide prevention. The projects approved are varied and include the provision of early intervention measures for those at risk and also the provision of services for those bereaved through suicide.

The lead Department in relation to this funding measure and in relation to mainstream supports for suicide prevention is the Department of Health and Children. The application and assessment process was administered by Pobal on behalf of the lead Department. In total, 125 applications were received in response to a public invitation. The group referred to in the Deputy's question were not among the applicant groups.

Government recently approved the 2007 Programme of measures to be supported through Dormant Accounts funding. Suicide prevention initiatives are not among the specific themes which will be targeted this year although measures to tackle youth disadvantage will again feature strongly in this year's Programme.