John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the breakdown of the gender and the various age groups of people that have committed suicide here for each of the years 2002 to 2007 and comparative figures for other EU Member States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8095/08]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of suicide here and comparative figures for other EU Member States; the preventative programmes in place in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8096/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.

Data on mortality is compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and published in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Vital Statistics. The information in relation to suicides for the year 2007 is not yet available but the number of deaths by suicide by year and gender for the years 2002 to 2006 is shown below.

Comparative figures across EU member states are not readily available but the 2007 OECD publication "Health at a Glance" indicates a relatively low level of suicide in Ireland. The overall Irish rate is below the EU average and is the 7th lowest in the 27 OECD countries.

"Reach Out" — a National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention, 2005-2014 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.

Initiatives funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention include developing and implementing national training programmes, completing the availability of self-harm services in 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. 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 and other services such as Primary Care 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.