Console’s services to continue despite controversy, Harris says

The Government wants to ensure there is no disruption to services arising from the current controversy surrounding the suicide charity Console, the Minister for Health Simon Harris has said.

The Minister said that reports on Thursday in The Irish Times as well as a forthcoming RTÉ Prime Time investigation documentary and an new Health Service Executive (HSE) internal audit had raised issues that would have to be dealt with.

However, he said his priority as well as the Government’s priority was “ to ensure the continuity of services in relation to counselling, particularly in relation to bereavement counselling”.

The Irish Times reported on Thursday that gardaí were examining the use of funds at Console amid concerns over financial management.

The HSE is also considering future funding options for Console following a recently- completed audit which it had carried out .

Console has received about €2.5 million from the HSE over the past five years for providing suicide prevention services.

Mr Harris said it was important to note that the HSE internal audit arose from some concerns that that had been identified by the National Office of Suicide Prevention.

The HSE said on Wednesday that concerns had arisen in relation to a number of areas in the Console organisation including corporate governance and financial management.

The Minister said it was very important to his department and to the HSE to ensure that taxpayers’ money was fully audited.

The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said she was aware of reports of a Garda investigation into Console but that she was not in a position to confirm that at present.

She said there was now a new charities’ regulatory authority in place which could investigate complaints made by individuals.