Vol. 522 No. 3
20 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of recommendations of the National Task Force on Suicide which have been fully implemented; the number which have not been fully implemented; and if he will list the recommendations in each category. [18357/00]
Considerable progress has been made to date in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the task force on suicide. Central to the report was the provision of a national suicide prevention-reduction strategy which is now in place. The key components of the overall strategy are the implementation of measures aimed at high risk groups; provision of information and training on suicide prevention to relevant professionals and organisations and research into suicide prevention.
Many of the task force's recommendations require continuous development, particularly in the area of training and in the development of services relating to suicide and suicide prevention. Some of the recommendations are the responsibility of Government Departments, for example the Departments of Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department is liaising with the health boards and the relevant Departments to monitor the ongoing implementation of the recommendations. It has not been possible in the time available to provide a comprehensive update on the progress in relation to the implementation of the recommendations as requested by the Deputy. However, this will be made available to the Deputy by my Department as soon as possible.
