Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for more counselling services following an increase in suicides in Cork.

He said the rate of suicide in Cork city and county was almost twice the national average and he called for more to be done to identify priorities.

“Counselling is one . . . there is a lack of counselling,” he said.

Mr Martin said in the Dáil on Wednesday suicide was causing enormous grief and devastation, fear, anxiety and worry.

In Cork, he said, over the past two weeks, up to 16 people had died by suicide.

A multi-agency response had been organised and a task force was to meet next month to respond to the situation, he added.

Budget doubled

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was hard to disagree with anybody who said we needed to do more about suicide.

Mr Kenny said the national suicide prevention office had its budget doubled since 2011.

Next year, the total allocation for mental health would be €851.3 million and, while it would not bring anybody back, it was an increase of €140 million from what was there previously, he said.

Calling for increased Government action on the issue, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said all sections of society were affected by suicide.

“It is at a human cost beyond comprehension,’’ he added.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can contact: The Samaritans on 116123 or jo@samaritans.org