Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
587. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding committed to third level institutions for counselling services in 2020 will be allocated to ensure students have swift access to mental health supports particularly in the aftermath of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15181/20]
View answerAll higher education institutions are required to put in place appropriate student services, which can fall under a number of headings, particularly ‘Welfare and Guidance’, which includes counselling services and health promotion. In Budget 2020 funding of €2 million was provided by the Government for student mental health and wellbeing initiatives in the higher education sector. This will enhance the capacity of institutions, by supplementing the funding that the institutions already invest in the provision of these services to students. Each higher education institution will benefit from the additional funding, and I understand that the HEA has advised the higher education institutions in this regard.
In addition, a National Framework on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention was developed by a working group, which included representatives from the HEA, USI, National Office of Suicide Prevention, Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland, the HSE as well as from my Department. It is expected that the Framework will be published in the coming weeks, thus providing an invaluable resource to the third-level institutions.
