Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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265. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider flying the Amber Flag from his Department buildings, on a chosen day, in order to raise awareness of the Amber Flag programme, which works to raise awareness of mental health issues within second level schools, sports clubs and youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6424/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have noted and very much welcome this worthwhile initiative, which is aimed at colleges, schools, clubs and other youth organisations. The objective is to encourage such organisations to put in place programmes to combat the scourge of suicide and promote positive mental health. The Amber Flag scheme is one in which the flag is earned following the introduction of mental health programs for young people within an organisation. The application form, which must be completed in order to participate in the project, requires the applicant organisation to confirm that "permission has been obtained for photos of our students to be used in conjunction with the Amber Flag initiative".

Given the focus of the Amber Flag initiative, it is not considered that a Government Department falls within the intended scope of the project. In any event, the flying of flags at Government Departments is strictly limited by protocol.

I commend Suicide Aware, the voluntary organisation that developed the Amber Flag initiative, and its project partners, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and the Union of Students in Ireland, and wish them every success with the project.