Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
99. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budget and final cost for programmes (details supplied) in the 2012-2013 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40231/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that last January I launched the Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention, which were developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health. The guidelines provide practical guidance to post-primary schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated way and they also provide evidence-based advice on how to support young people who may be at risk of suicidal behaviour. Direct expenditure in 2012/13 related to the production, design and printing of the guidelines which, in the main, was funded by the National Office of Suicide Prevention (N.O.S.P.) but involved a contribution of €3,740 from my Department's National Education Psychological Service. NEPS Psychologist are also raising awareness of the Guidelines at school level. In addition in the same period I had published, along with my colleague, Minister Fitzgerald, an Action Plan on Bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. Officials from my Department have already commenced work on the implementation of the actions. In particular, an awareness raising initiative on cyber bullying targeted at young people is already underway and my Department is supporting the Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying in second level schools which took place in March. I have allocated €500,000 to support the implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying. Actual expenditure in respect of 2013 will be known closer to years end. There are no substitution costs involved. My Department's National Behavioural Support Service afforded during 2012/13 post-primary school teachers an opportunity to train in the delivery of the 'Friends for Life' and 'My Friends Youth' programmes which are aimed at reducing anxiety and building resilience among students. For 2012/13 some 193 teachers from 93 schools received training in this regard at a cost of €91,193 (including teacher substitution costs).
