Seán Haughey
Question:71 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health the aims and objectives of the National Task Force on Suicide; when its final report is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18662/95]
Written Answers. - Suicide Task Force.
, Limerick East): The task force on suicide whose establishment I recently announced has the following terms of reference: (i) to define numerically and qualitatively the nature of the suicide problem in Ireland; (ii) to define and to quantify the problems of attempted suicide and parasuicide in Ireland, including the associated costs involved; (iii) to make recommendations on how service providers can most cost-effectively address the problems of attempted suicide and para-suicide; (iv) to identify the various authorities with jurisdiction in suicide prevention strategies and their respective responsibilities; (v) to formulate, following consultation with all interested parties, a national suicide prevention strategy.
It is anticipated that by July 1996 the task force would be in a position to submit an interim report containing detailed analysis of all data relating to suicide, attempted suicide and associated factors. The rest of 1996 would then be devoted to a major consultative exercise involving all interested parties leading to the formulation of a national suicide prevention strategy which is expected by the end of 1996.