Health Services

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Questions (820, 821)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

820. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the geographic distribution of SCAN services, by county and CHO area; and the timeline for full national coverage. [28149/26]

View answer

821. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated under-18 SCAN services currently in operation; and whether additional youth-specific services are planned. [28150/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 820 and 821 together.

The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service is critically important safety net for people in suicidal crisis and the Minister fully supports the intention within the second Sharing the Vision implementation plan to expand these services to provide full coverage nationwide. These services provide a timely response to requests for assessment of patients in suicidal crisis from GPs, and the assessments often take place in primary care settings.

Under Budget 2026 I secured funding to expand the SCAN service, adding an additional 6 SCAN teams and bringing the number of teams to 21 with 45 WTEs across 18 counties. The incremental expansion of this service to provide full nationwide coverage will be progressed through future budgetary cycles in consultation with the HSE.

In July 2025, Donegal Mental Health Services became the first Mental Health Service in Ireland to offer a dedicated suicide crisis nurse service for teenagers (SCAN U) within Primary Care following referral from General Practitioners (GPs) under the National Clinical Care Program for Self Harm and Suicide Related Ideation (NCPSHI). Under SCAN?U, GPs will be able to refer 16 to 18-year-olds who present with suicidal thoughts direct to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses, with a full bio-psychosocial assessment taking place within within 72?hours.

As aspects of your queries relate to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 821 answered with Question No. 820.

Questions Nos. 822 and 823 answered with Question No. 816.