Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of suicides recorded among members of the Defence Forces in the past three years, respectively; if no number is recorded, his plans to compile such information on members' health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50567/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the Defence Forces are not in a position to provide the information requested in relation to death by suicide. All sudden deaths must be reported to the relevant Coroner's Office. It is a matter for the Coroner to decide whether a post mortem should be conducted and to determine the cause of death.

The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me. The Defence Forces Personnel Support Service (PSS) provides a welfare, information, psycho-social support and referral service to serving members of the Defence Forces, their families, civilian employees and in a limited role to veterans. This service sustains and enhances the individual well-being of personnel, and promotes a safe and positive work culture, in order to support the effectiveness of the Defence Forces. The service is delivered through a network of military Barrack Personnel Support Service Officers (BPSSO) and civilian Occupational Social Workers (OSW). The Defence Forces, through the PSS engage in extensive suicide awareness and education programmes for all members of the Defence Forces.

These programmes include:-

- Issuing an "Information Guide on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Defence Forces";

- Issuing and giving presentations on "Defence Forces Guidelines on Suicide";

- Running courses on "Suicide and Self Harm";

- Providing access to "Mental Fitness" programmes through the Defence Forces Intranet;

- Providing WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) training;

- Conducting STORM (Skills Training on Risk Management in suicide and self harm mitigation) training with all overseas units;

- Providing ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) training in conjunction with the HSE;

- Conducting Safe Talk training within the Defence Forces;

- Providing CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) training; and

- Issuing a PSS Booklet entitled "Defence Forces Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention".

In addition, an independent and strictly confidential 24 hour care-line, manned by trained counsellors, is available to all Defence Forces personnel.