438. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if the recommendation in the seventh report on the high levels of suicide in Irish society, published by the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children in July 2006, to streamline the training, funding, job descriptions and reporting relationships of suicide prevention officers and to provide that these posts report to the National Office for Suicide Prevention, was completed by September 2006. [39433/15]

The regional Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention are key to building community capacity to respond to suicide. The HSE currently employs 18 Resource Officers across the country. Two additional Resource Officers are due to start on 16 November and 1 further post will be filled in December.

As the issues of staff training, funding, job descriptions and reporting relationships are a matter for the HSE, the question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.