Suicide Incidence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2010

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Ceisteanna (148)

Dan Neville

Ceist:

186 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers of suicides in the first three quarters of 2009 and the corresponding figures for 2008. [19213/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney)

Data on mortality is compiled by the Central Statistics Office and published in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Vital Statistics. The number of suicides in the first three quarters of 2008 and 2009 are shown in the following table:

Suicide Figures by Quarter

Year	Quarter 1	Quarter 2	Quarter 3
2008	75	95	109
2009	106	122	126

Note: 2008 and 2009 figures are by year of registration and are provisional.

The provisional figures presented for the 1st three Quarters of 2009 show an increase on the figures for the same period in 2008. However, the figures for 2008 were lower than previous years. Caution should be exercised in comparing the 2009 statistics with 2007 or 2008 as these figures are also provisional and will be subject to change following the outcome of Coroners' inquests.