Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is little progress made on implementing the 33 recommendations on suicide prevention made by the Joint Committee on Health and Children in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38196/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the tangible deadlines set for the implementation of the 33 recommendations on suicide prevention made by the Joint Committee on Health and Children in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38197/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on a special supplement on suicide in a newspaper (details supplied) which described the Government's record on implementing suicide prevention recommendations as a litany of failure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38198/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 to 448, inclusive, together.

The recommendations of the Joint Committee on Health and Children regarding the 'High Level of Suicide in Irish Society' published in 2006 and the Committee's recent updated Report are consistent with the actions identified in 'Reach Out' the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005 -2014. The strategy provides a policy framework for suicide prevention activities in Ireland and 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 publishes an annual report which is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Reach Out identifies four levels of action aimed at the general population, target groups who may be particularly vulnerable, responding to those affected by suicide and information and research requirements. Twenty-six action areas were identified with specific points of action to be implemented in three phases over the period 2005-2014. All actions in phase 1 have been progressed or completed including developing and implementing national training programmes; developing a media monitoring mechanism, progressing the availability of self-harm services through Hospital Emergency departments; developing a standardised approach to deliberate self harm presentations at Hospital Emergency departments; implementing recommendations arising from a review of bereavement services; supporting voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention and developing mental health awareness campaigns. Implementation of Phase 2 actions is ongoing. In addition to the €8m available for suicide prevention initiatives, once-off funding of €1 million was provided in 2009 to further develop services for those bereaved by suicide and to develop an information and awareness campaign aimed at young people, which was launched recently.

A target to achieve a 10% reduction in suicide by 2010 has been agreed with the National Office for Suicide Prevention. Targets to reduce deliberate self-harm (DSH) have also been agreed. The aim is to reduce the incidence of repeated deliberate self-harm by 5% by 2010 and a further 5% by 2016.