Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will implement the recommendations of Reach Out, The National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8737/07]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will allocate a minimum sum of €10 million for each of the next five years specifically for identified measures to reduce the incidence of suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8740/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 311 together.

"Reach Out" — a National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014 was launched in September 2005. Four levels of action comprise the main body of the Strategy i.e. — general population approach; targeted approach; responding to suicide; and information research.

There are just over 90 action points in Reach Out, and they are divided into 3 phases for implementation. Phase 1 covers 30 actions which are to be implemented over the next 3 years.

Following the launch of the Strategy, the Health Service Executive (HSE) established the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) to oversee the implementation of the Strategy and to coordinate suicide prevention activities across the State, consult widely in relation to the planning of future initiatives and ensure best practice in suicide prevention.

In 2006, an additional €1.2 million was allocated to the Health Service Executive specifically for suicide prevention initiatives and research. A further €1.85 million was allocated in 2007 to develop and implement national training programmes and to complete the availability of self harm services through A&E Departments. The funding will also be used to implement a national positive mental health awareness programme through the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

Overall spending on mental health services in 2006 amounted to €984m. This included an additional €26.2 million development funding which was allocated to the HSE for the further development of our mental health services in line with "A Vision for Change", the report of the expert group on mental health policy. A further sum of €25 million has been allocated in 2007 to continue this development.

The future funding for suicide prevention initiatives will be considered in the context of the estimates process in 2008 and beyond.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will establish a system for comprehensive, accurate and up to date data on suicide here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8739/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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Data on suicides is collected through both the Coroners Service and through the Gardai (Form 104) and published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The data is forwarded to the CSO once the Coroner's verdict has been determined. Data on age, gender, method of suicide etc. is collected and available for publication.

Form 104 contains more personal information such as marital and employment status, evidence of alcohol/drug dependency, other contributory factors. Analysis of Form 104 is currently underway and a report on this work will be available in the coming months, which will assess the information and value of using Form 104.

Reach Out — The National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention (Action 25.2) identified the need to 'Establish a national confidential inquiry into deaths from unnatural causes, including suicide'.

I have been informed that the Health Service Executive's National Office for Suicide Prevention has commissioned a scoping study for this system based on international best practice.

Both pieces of research will provide indications and proposals about how such a confidential inquiry system might be established in Ireland.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide clear and transparent annual reports on progress on the implementation of the reports (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8741/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The independent monitoring group, which I established in March 2006 to monitor progress on the implementation of the recommendations of "A Vision for Change", the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, is to submit its first report by mid 2007. In addition, I have been informed that the Health Service Executive plan to publish a progress report and outline the proposed implementation programme over the life of "A Vision for Change" in the near future.

In relation to the reports on Suicide Prevention Initiatives, the first annual report of the National Office for Suicide Prevention, outlining suicide prevention activities in 2005 was published in September 2006. This annual report meets the requirement of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 which requires a report on activities in the area of suicide prevention to be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas each year.