Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the Government's commitment to suicide prevention in view of the freeze in the 2008 Budget for the National Office for Suicide Prevention at the 2007 level of funding. [2202/08]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress on the implementation of the 33 recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee report on High Levels of Suicide in Ireland published in July 2006 and debated in Dáil Éireann on 26 October 2006. [2202/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 156 together.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to the implementation of suicide prevention initiatives and the further development of services to prevent and reduce further tragic loss of life.

In September 2005, "Reach Out" — a National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention, 2005-2014 was launched. The strategy provides a policy framework for suicide prevention activities in Ireland. The strategy calls for a multi-sectoral approach to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in order to foster cooperation between health, education, community, voluntary and private sector agencies. The HSE, through the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), oversees the implementation of the strategy and has taken on board the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Health and Children regarding the "High Levels of Suicide in Irish Society" which are consistent with the actions identified in "Reach Out".

Additional funding of €1.85 million was provided in 2007 for the implementation of the Strategy bringing the overall funding available to support suicide prevention initiatives in 2007 to €8 million and this level of funding continues into 2008.

Initiatives funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention include developing and implementing national training programmes, completing the availability of self-harm services through A&E departments, developing mental health awareness campaigns, implementing recommendations arising from a review of bereavement services, eleven dedicated suicide officers and supporting voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention.

It should also be emphasised that a wide range of other expenditure on mental health services generally is of importance in measures to help prevent suicide. A total of some €1 billion is now spent on mental health services, including consultant psychiatry and psychiatric nursing. These services play a vital role in the drive to reduce the incidence of suicide, and should be taken into account when examining the level of total public expenditure devoted to suicide prevention.