Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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206. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide alternative services in the areas previously served by Console; and if he will engage with other charity groups in these areas to ensure the service users are not left without a service. [21836/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Console provides counselling, therapy and support to people who have been bereaved by suicide. It operates a national Freephone 24/7 Helpline and provides counselling and therapy at Console centre or outreach locations in several centres countrywide.

All of Console’s services are delivered by fully qualified and accredited counsellors, psychotherapists or psychologists who operate to strict procedural and ethical guidelines and under strict clinical supervision. Its counsellors and therapists are experienced in addressing trauma, loss, crisis intervention and complicated grief.

The HSE audit into Console was initiated in April 2015 by the National Office for Suicide Prevention following an examination of the 2013 returns from Console to the HSE, which were received in late 2014. The HSE has confirmed that concerns arose in a number of areas, including in relation to the corporate governance and financial management of the agency. It should be noted, however, that the HSE has informed the Department of Health that it has not uncovered any issues with the standard of the Console services funded by the Executive. The audit process has been concluded and an audit report sent to the HSE’s Mental Health Division.

Ministers Harris & McEntee were briefed on 4 July 2016 by the HSE Mental Health Division on the HSE audit of Console. At this meeting, both Ministers emphasised that the continuation of services was an over-riding priority.

On 7 July 2016, a series of meetings were held involving the HSE, Department of Health, Ministerial Advisers, Charities Regulator, service providers and the Interim CEO of Console. The purpose of the meetings was to clarify the current position with respect to Console and to consider how arrangements could be put in place to ensure the seamless continuation of the three services funded by the HSE currently provided by Console; the 24/7 Suicide Helpline, the Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service, and the Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service.

Ministers Harris & McEntee met with Console’s Interim CEO on 8 July and since then work has continued to ensure that the services provided by Console are continued.

HSE management has assured the Department of Health that its first priority will be to ensure continuity of the various services provided by Console, having equal regard to the financial controls and the guidelines around the funding of agencies by the HSE.