Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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2445. To ask the Minister for Health her response to the announcement by an organisation (details supplied) that it will be forced to cut staff due to a fall in donations; her Department's assessment of the impact these cuts will have on the provision of suicide prevention and crisis intervention services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46139/25]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and I value the work of Pieta, who make a significant contribution to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention services nationally. This free counselling services for people experiencing suicidal ideation or self-harm, the free 24/7 crisis phone & text line and postvention services such as Pieta’s Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service (SBLS) and Suicide Bereavement Counselling.

While Pieta’s funding model has always relied primarily on its very successful fundraising activities, Pieta also currently receives significant statutory funding to support many of these services. HSE funding to Pieta has increased from €2.1m in 2019 to €3.2m in 2025, underlining the importance placed on the service they provide. This funding is primarily provided by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), but Pieta also receive funding from the HSE at a local level for a variety of initiatives.

I am very concerned about self-harm and suicide and their impact on families and communities and suicide and self-harm reduction are a priority for the Government and me as Minister for Mental Health.

I have increased funding for mental health services by over 44% since 2020. Underlining the importance of suicide and self-harm, funding for HSE NOSP has increased significantly in the last nine years, from approximately €5m in 2012 to €15m in 2025.

Over half of NOSP’s annual funding is for grants to national organisations and frontline services working in the area of suicide prevention and mental health promotion. This funding increase will allow HSE NOSP to continue to enhance funding to national organisations and frontline services working in the area of suicide prevention and mental health promotion.

In addition, successive budgets have provided funding for suicide reduction initiatives, including the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide Related Ideation, Crisis Resolution Services, Solace Cafés, and bereavement supports.

Work is also underway on the development of a successor strategy to Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national suicide reduction strategy, the implementation of which will guide future investment in suicide reduction services.

Pieta has, for many years, successfully generated the majority of its funding through its fundraising activities. However, in recent times I understand this has become increasingly challenging.

The Government and I appreciate the good work that Pieta has done and is doing, and I strive each year to increase the amount of funding for counselling and suicide prevention services in our communities.

Importantly, there has been close engagement with Pieta on this matter and the Department of Health has been assured that there will be no impact on HSE-funded service delivery, which is secured by statutory funding. Pieta will continue to honour their agreements with the HSE, and NOSP in particular.