“It’s very interesting that it has been said here that tackling the issue with facilities is not the answer. It might not be the entire or the only answer but they are still required,” said Cllr Scully.

Neville slams suicide cuts

Fine Gael TD Dan Neville has accused the Government of “saving pennies over saving lives” by cancelling eight suicide prevention courses nationally while several Limerick courses had to be moved to less suitable venues.

Deputy Neville, who is also the President of the Irish Association of Suicidology, added that the €12,000 saved was not worth the loss of over 100 trained individuals in different communities working on suicide prevention.

“Eight workshops which were presenting the ASIST course have been cancelled and 15  more have been moved out of hotels to venues most of which are totally unsuitable,” said Deputy Neville.

Several local workshops have been moved to “often unsuitable” free venues such as community halls—a move which has also frustrated the preparation work of suicide resource officers.

“People who volunteer to play a role in reducing suicide should be treated decently. It  is very disturbing that when people become upset, as they do when addressing this delicate issue, there is no place in a cold hall  to comfort them or offer a cup of coffee. To abandon these programmes and force the situation as the Minister of State has done in one of his first acts is a disgrace. He should revisit this matter.

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