An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-17
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Notwithstanding the fact that we have seen a reduction in suicide numbers between 2001 and 2025 by 28%, we have not seen the same reduction in suicide numbers in the Travelling community. Where once we ranked one of the worst in Europe, we now sit at about 12th. We will have a new strategy in place very soon - the connecting for life strategy. There were over 1,900 referrals into that strategy, which was really important. The Deputy is correct. Our suicide numbers are currently 9.2 for every 100,000. Unfortunately, in Northern Ireland and across the UK, the figure is 14 per 100,000. We have made progress but not enough when it comes to the Travelling community.
I recently visited Exchange House in Dublin. As the Deputy knows, I put in place free counselling support for men from 1 September. Exchange House partnered with me and I was able to provide it with €100,000 to provide a 24-7 counselling line for Travellers. I continue to engage with the service. I can speak to the Deputy offline about what else he suggested.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:38+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-17