Vol. 511 No. 6
286 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding will be made available to the Southern Health Board in order to combat increasing incidents of suicide in the board's area which has the second highest suicide rate in Ireland. [25273/99]
In line with the recommendations of the report of the National Task Force on Suicide, the health boards, including the Southern Health Board, have established working groups to develop appropriate measures in an effort to address this significant public health problem. Steady progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the report. The Southern Health Board has developed a strategic operational plan, Targeting Suicidal Behaviour – a strategy for effective service development. The implications of this plan are under consideration in my Department and I hope to be in a position to provide funding towards its implementation in the context of the revenue allocations for 2000.
