Neville wants review of mental health service

Fine Gael's Dan Neville has called for an immediate review of mental health services by the Government.

"In addition to the 450 suicide deaths, 10,000 people suffer injury as a result of attempted suicide," said Deputy Neville.

Loss of life and injury on this scale is a scandal, yet there has been no public inquiry and little investment in preventing such tragedies occurring again," he continued.

"One in four people in Ireland will have mental health problems in their lifetime. Ireland is in breach of international conventions on human rights in relation to the mentally ill.

"Yet funding for mental health services has fallen from 12% to 7.2% of the health budget over the past 15 years.

"The Government's response has been criticised by Amnesty International, the Irish Psychiatric Association and the Inspector of Mental Hospitals.

"All of these expert groups cannot be wrong. A comprehensive, needs-based, service-user-led review of the mental health care services, is needed."