Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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682. To ask the Minister for Health if he will intervene with the HSE to ensure that funding is provided to SOSAD Ireland, the organisation that does so much work regarding suicide awareness and prevention; if he will ensure enhanced collaboration between the health services and the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41594/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the planning and delivery of health services at local level, including those for Mental Health. The Department of Health does not directly fund the type of organisation referred to by the Deputy in his Question.

It is my understanding that SOSAD made an application for section 39 funding to the HSE. I must note that under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE may support any person or body that provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide, and it is a therefore a matter for the HSE to make a decision in relation to this funding request. This would take account of all relevant factors including, for example, existing HSE services, how any proposal aligns with local HSE service priorities; Governance arrangements, Quality and Safety, resource availability or any other appropriate matter that normally applies to Service Level Agreements between the HSE and NGOs generally.

I have asked my Department to arrange for me to meet with SOSAD and the HSE in the coming weeks, for an update on the situation.