Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
92. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase the funding for mental health supports for third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26982/21]
View answerThe mental health and wellbeing of our students is one of my priorities particularly against the backdrop of the intensified stresses and pressures impacting on our students arising from their experiences in seeking to pursue their studies primarily on an online basis during the pandemic.
In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports from Government for the higher education and further education and training sectors to mitigate the impact of Covid. This package included funding of €3m to underpin wellbeing and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions (HEIs) which was in addition to the €2m funding that was allocated in Budget 2020 and funding that institutions already provide for these services.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) requested that the HEIs distribute this funding in support of specific student engagement such as the recruitment of additional student counsellors, and implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, which I launched last year.
This Framework is Ireland’s first ever national approach to address student mental health and suicide prevention. It recognises the many challenges students face, and sets out ways in which institutions can support and respond through working proactively to maximise mental health and wellbeing. The Framework provides clear guidance to higher education institutions regarding implementation of good practices in responding to student mental health difficulties.
In addition, a Working Group for Student and Learner Wellbeing and Engagement was established in January 2021 under the aegis of the Tertiary Education Covid Steering Group chaired by the Union of Students in Ireland and comprising representatives from across the higher and further education and training sector.
The main purpose of this working group has been to further reflect on the challenges facing student and learner wellbeing and engagement as a result of Covid and to identify existing and further measures to address these. The group examined key issues for students and learners including in relation to mental health and wellbeing, social engagement and strategies for retention. The proposals from this group are currently under consideration by my Department and individual providers, with a view to developing a further sectoral response appropriate to the needs of students and learners.
