Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding options available to community groups in respect of suicide prevention initiatives; the amount of funding available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30176/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Since the establishment in 2005 of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), additional funding of €3.55 million has been provided for the implementation of 'Reach Out'. This brings the total funding available to support suicide prevention initiatives to €8 million in 2008. The NOSP has an annual budget of €4.5 million which is used to develop and implement national training programmes, implement awareness campaigns and progress actions identified in the All-Island Action Plan for Suicide Prevention. Other suicide prevention initiatives, which include the funding for dedicated suicide resources officers, deliberate self-harm response nurses in A&E departments, funding to local voluntary groups etc, are delivered and funded directly by the HSE.

In addition, the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, allocated €1 million in 2008 for community-based initiatives in the area of suicide prevention.