To ask the Minister of Health how he will ensure that the community and voluntary sector is appropriately resourced to meet its role in suicide prevention.

I greatly value the work undertaken by the Community and Voluntary Sector and recognise that effective suicide prevention requires delivery across a range of settings and services. A wide range of existing programmes are delivered through the Community and Voluntary sector and we wish to deliver further programmes with the sector subject to funding being available.

Further funding is required to ensure the full implementation of Protect Life 2. This remains very challenging with existing budgets. Work is ongoing to identify funding options for the new Action Plan against this challenging financial position.