I propose to take Questions Nos. 438, 454 and 477 together.
There 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 expanded crisis resolution services and crisis cafés as alternatives to Emergency Departments, strengthened SCAN supports in primary care settings, specialist out-of-hours nursing provision in Emergency Departments, enhanced crisis pathways for children and young people, increased funding for community and voluntary organisations delivering suicide prevention services such as Pieta, and €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 €5.19 million in 2012 to €14 million in 2024.
Crisis mental health supports, including those with 24/7 coverage, are currently provided across a number of settings and services, including hospital based services, out of hours services such as CAMHS on call, and non-governmental organisation services such as crisis phone and text supports, funded by HSE Mental Health Services.
The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone (2020-2030) is currently overseeing a piece of work by the HSE Implementation Group to bring together the range of available out-of-hours and crisis services and supports, with a view to aligning and streamlining supports and identifying any potential gaps in service provision. It is envisaged that this work will form the basis of an Adult Crisis Response Framework. This project is currently in an advanced state of preparation and is expected to be initiated formally before end-2026.
In addition, as Minister, I have overseen the rollout of a range of out of hours supports for people experiencing mental health difficulties as alternatives to Emergency Departments.
Crisis Resolution Services: The model of care for Crisis Resolution Services was developed as a direct recommendation of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. It recognises that people who are experiencing a mental health crisis need specialist services to provide timely brief intensive supports to keep people safe.
Crisis Resolution Teams: These comprise teams of mental health professionals who work out of hours to meet people in a crisis and provide rapid assessment and intensive intervention. There are 6 pilot Crisis Resolution Teams currently operational in Galway, Sligo/Leitrim, Cork city (two teams), Waterford City and County, South Dublin/Wicklow. The Limerick Crisis Resolution Team is due to commence operations this year.
Crisis Cafés: Solace Cafes provide a welcoming, non-clinical safe environment in the style of a café where people can go at evenings and weekends. The Cafés provide a range of supports including crisis support, signposting, peer support, and community support. The Cafes are now open in Cork City, South Dublin and Sligo and Waterford. An additional Solace Café has opened this year in Limerick.
Additional funding has been provided for more Crisis Resolution Teams and Solace Cafes in Budget 2026, for Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands (Tullamore/Westmeath).
Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) Service
The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service is a critically important safety net for people in suicidal crisis and I fully support 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.
The SCAN service was originally developed under the National Clinical Programme for Self-harm and Suicide-related Ideation (NCPSHI) which was introduced in Irish public hospital emergency departments in 2014. Primarily delivered by clinical nurse specialists with support from a consultant psychiatrist in each hospital area, the programme supports people presenting with suicidal ideation as well as self-harm.
The model of care for the service envisages a dedicated mental health assessment room within hospitals to provide a more appropriate environment for assessments to take place. Even when the full network of alternative Crisis Resolution Services is in place, we know people in distress will still present to emergency departments for support. Given most acute mental health in-patient units are co-located with our acute hospital network, it’s important people in distress are assessed in clinically appropriate environments when they present for support. I have allocated funding for the recruitment of additional SCAN nurses in 2026. This brings the number of funded SCAN posts to 45 WTE comprising 21 teams covering 18 counties.
Specialist Crisis Nurses in hospitals
Under funding which I allocated in Budget 2026, the HSE will establish specialist nursing teams in the emergency departments of all Model 4 hospitals out-of-hours, made up of Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists to support people in crisis. By placing specialist nursing teams in our emergency departments out-of-hours, coupled with the expansion of community alternatives such as crisis resolution teams and crisis cafes, we are fundamentally changing how we respond to the needs of people in distress.
With regard to aftercare for individuals who present with self-harm or suicidal distress, under Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm: Connecting for Life 2026–2035, there is a clear emphasis on follow-up care and continuity of support. This includes ensuring that individuals receive a trauma-informed biopsychosocial assessment, safety planning and timely follow-up, alongside the development of individualised care plans to support recovery. A key focus is on strengthening the transition between hospital and community services, including enhanced supports in primary care and community settings, to ensure people receive ongoing, appropriate care. These priorities are reflected in particular in Recommendation 3.9 (Enhancing support within Emergency Departments), Recommendation 3.10 (Enhancing community support), and Recommendation 3.7 (Offering alternative care pathways and evidence-based interventions).
As these PQs raise a number of operational matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
