Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
855. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to fully implement the Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm, Connecting for Life 2026-2035; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47719/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been sustained and significant investment in suicide reduction initiatives over the last number of years, underlining the high priority placed by Government on improving mental health services and supports and reducing suicide and self-harm across the population.
This commitment has been further reinforced in Budget 2026. The total allocation for mental health is almost €1.6 billion, representing a record level of funding and an increase for the sixth consecutive year, with overall mental health funding increasing by over 50% since 2020.
Budget 2026 also includes a major focus on improving supports for people in mental health crisis, with over €15 million in additional funding for crisis supports and suicide prevention measures.
This funding is supporting a range of service developments, including:
• Specialist nursing teams in Emergency Departments (Model 4 hospitals) operating on an out-of-hours basis to support people in crisis
• Three new Crisis Resolution Services and associated crisis cafés in Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands as alternatives to Emergency Departments
• Additional Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN) to support people presenting in primary care settings
• A new crisis response pathway for children and young people, including additional specialist CAMHS doctors
• Increased funding for community and voluntary organisations delivering suicide prevention services, including Pieta
• €1 million to support the initial implementation of the new suicide reduction strategy
These measures are aligned with the actions set out in the Strategy, including strengthening crisis responses across hospital and community settings and expanding alternatives to Emergency Departments.
In addition, there has been sustained investment in suicide reduction initiatives over recent years through the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), with expenditure increasing significantly from approximately €5 million in 2012 to over €16 million in 2026.
With regard to the Connecting for Life 2026–2035, the strategy does not set out a single aggregated estimate of the total cost required for full implementation over its lifetime.
Instead, the Strategy provides for a phased and structured approach to resource planning. It commits that implementation will be supported through the annual Estimates process and will be underpinned by fully costed implementation plans for each implementation period.
In this regard, three sequential implementation plans, with the first covering the period 2026 to 2028, will specify the detailed actions, timelines and associated costs. This approach allows for costs to be aligned with evolving priorities, service developments and emerging evidence over the lifetime of the Strategy.
The Strategy further provides that there will be ongoing investment in suicide prevention across Government, with this investment tracked annually, including through the development of annual reporting on expenditure across the civil service and public sector. []
The Strategy recognises the importance of economic evaluation as part of its monitoring and evaluation framework, to ensure that resources are used effectively and that interventions deliver value for money.[]
Overall, while a single total cost is not specified, the Strategy establishes a clear framework to ensure that implementation is appropriately resourced, subject to Government approval through the Estimates process, and accompanied by robust financial planning, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
This is complemented by sustained and increasing investment in mental health services and suicide prevention, including targeted funding for crisis supports, which will support the early implementation and delivery of key actions under the Strategy.
