I wish to speak about the very sensitive issue of suicide and the effect it has on the people in our country and their families, friends and neighbours.

Sadly and tragically, more than 4,000 people have died through suicide in the past eight years. We have seen changes in that time and I thank the current and past Governments for the efforts that have been made and the moneys that have been invested in psychiatric services. Of course, we could be critical and say that more should be done, but I want to go through the positives of what we have been trying to do and highlight what we need to do to try to save more lives, which is what I want to achieve by having this debate with the Taoiseach in an open and frank way.

There is an onus of responsibility on each of us throughout political parties and the Independents. We have a job of work to do, that being, to try to save people in every way we can. Unfortunately, I have seen a new issue arising in my own county and across the border into County Cork, that is, the tragic deaths of mothers of young families, including in recent months, leaving families devastated. This has concentrated my mind on the issue. I was grateful to have had the opportunity to serve for many years on a psychiatric services committee on the old Southern Health Board. I like to think that I learned a great deal about mental illness in all its shapes and forms. I commend organisations like Pieta House on its Darkness into Light fundraiser, through which it has raised millions of euro in recent years; the Samaritans; local GPs; counsellors; and people who do their best.

I wish to speak about young people, who face a new problem, that is, online bullying and social media. This brings new challenges. The Ceann Comhairle will respect the way I wish to deal with this matter, as I will not mention a specific case, names or the like. Recently, there was an event in our courts system where a person who told untruths online was punished financially for doing so. We need to see more of that. We need to see more challenges being taken against keyboard warriors, these bullies who are intent on intimidating people. I know that, when I sit down this evening, I will receive a text message or another message from a particular individual who has taken it upon himself or herself in recent years to get on my back. I do not give a damn about this person because I am able for that type of abuse, but what about younger people who have to put up with such nonsense? It might tip them over the edge on a bad day.

First of all, I thank the Deputy for the question and for the very constructive and non-partisan manner in which he has raised the issue. This is an extremely important issue that always has to command the full attention of the House across all political persuasions. Families and communities the length and breadth of the country have been affected by suicide. It is important to continue to raise awareness and to speak openly about mental health. That is important within our education curriculum and outside of our education curriculum.

The Connecting for Life strategy is Ireland's national suicide reduction strategy. It aims to reduce suicide and self-harm rates across society and in priority groups. We have the National Office for Suicide Prevention within the HSE. It was established to co-ordinate suicide reduction efforts around the country and to implement the strategy. Funding has increased on an annual basis, but it is not just about funding alone. It is about the proper delivery of services and co-ordination. Suicide prevention funding would have gone up progressively from about €3 million ten years ago to about €13 million or so now. Also, the National Office for Suicide Prevention works with the non-governmental and community sector in particular and with the HSE in an advisory role. About 20 partner non-governmental organisations are involved and 54% of the funding would go to those non-governmental organisations - groups like Pieta House, the Samaritans, Suicide or Survive and the Family Resource Centres.

It has been a while coming, but about 24 of the 26 emergency departments now have access to a mental health professional at all times, I am informed, through liaison mental health services based in acute hospitals or the national clinical programme for the management of self-harm in emergency departments.

That is important. In addition, prior to the pandemic, community mental health teams provided access to a seven-day per week mental health service. This is still in place and available for existing mental health service users in a blended format in compliance with Covid-19 restrictions. The seven-day telehealth service includes the crisis text line 50808, yourmentalhealth.ie, the information line 1800111888 and NGO partners' online supports.

Access and traffic to all of those services has increased during the Covid-19 period and we have an extra obligation to do more now during this period and its aftermath to support people, and young people in particular. That is why an education and well-being initiative, as part of funding that was allocated in the return of schools during the Covid-19 period, is focusing on the mental well-being of young people.

The main message to get out of this debate is that no one should ever need to feel alone. It is making the connection between the person who is at a critical time in his or her life and making it easier for him or her, whether that is through the local GP or calling the Samaritans or a friend, but also accessing the services that are there that the Government is funding. It is about making a person feel in this country that there is no need to feel lost or alone. You can put up your hand, dial your phone or call out for help and that help is there.

Every one of us, and especially politicians because we are quite simply dealing with so many people every day of the week, should be looking out for people’s mental health as well as for all of the other aspects of their lives that we try to impact upon positively. We should be on our guard because if by doing our work properly we can save any people going through the torture and anguish that is suicide, it would be a job very well done. It is an onus and responsibility that each of us have, which we should take very seriously and conscientiously.

I agree 100% with what the Deputy said. We always have to watch out for the vulnerabilities in others and be alert and aware. As he said earlier, we should be open in talking about mental health and about suicide but also in letting people know, which I consistently say to young people, that they should be kinder to one another. In life, people should be kinder to one another than is often the case and the Deputy referenced that in his earlier remarks. It is very important in a group or crowded setting to be very conscious that not everybody may be happy at a given, particular point in time or in a good position. We then have to provide supports in the access to GPs, community health teams, or a mental health professional within the community, which the Deputy has referred to.

My view, having been in the Department of Health quite some time ago, is we need to continue to strengthen the community health teams across the length and breadth of the country. In speaking to some senior psychiatrists and to people who have been involved in mental health service provision for years, they felt that we were overly institutionalised as a country, overly focused on the acute phase of mental illness and less so on the community side. We need to build up strong community mental health teams.

I thank the Taoiseach and I also thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising that important issue. It might also be appropriate for me to remind Members present that support services for the Oireachtas community are available should Members or staff require them. The truth is that none of us is impervious to online abuse or constant misrepresentation, which many people experience.