It has emerged that money that had been ear-marked for suicide prevention and mental health services this year was used to cover over-runs in other parts of the health service.

The Irish Times reports this morning that under plans announced a year ago, €35 million was to be invested in hiring 414 new staff and to expand services in the community in the area of suicide prevention.

The newspaper has found that only 17 mental health staff have been hired under these plans and that the money was used in other areas of the HSE.