A NEW DIRECTOR to the National Suicide Prevention Office is to be appointed “shortly,” more than five months after the retirement of the last director.
The previous director retired last October and a replacement has not yet been appointed. An acting director has taken over in a caretaker role.
Applications for the job closed on 3 February, Minister for State at the Department of Health Roisin Shortall told the Dáil this evening. Interviews are due to take place later this month and the appointment to the position should take place “shortly” after that.
Shortall described suicide prevention work as “one of the most urgent challenges currently facing society”.
486 people died by suicide in Ireland in 2010. Fine Gael TD Dan Neville told the Dáil that there were additionally 127 deaths categorised as “non-determined” which would be counted as suicide in other countries.
Neville stressed the urgency in appointing a new permanent director.
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