Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
491. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of third level college students aged 18 to 26 years who are on waiting lists for free counselling services; the average wait times, by college, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36080/22]
View answer492. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process by which third level college students aged 18 to 26 years can avail of free counselling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36081/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together.
The mental health and wellbeing of students is a priority for my Department, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought increased stress and anxiety levels for students. Over the past two years, we have allocated €10 million to higher education institutions to assist with supports for students. Each college was asked to focus on the recruitment of additional staff and address waiting lists. My Department allocates funding to the HEA for direct disbursement to the HEIs. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, including the funding of their student services, the employment of counselling staff, and the procurement of counselling, waiting lists and mental health services are a matter for the individual institutions.
However, I have asked the HEA to provide me with further detail on the allocation of that funding and its impact on waiting lists and I can revert to the Deputy. I am advised the funding over the past two years has enabled support services in HEIs to use new platforms and contemporary communication channels to reach out to students, rather than waiting for students to contact their student mental health services. This reaching out assisted in the support of students while COVID restriction were in place and continues to do so.
In 2020 PCHEI, Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland, received funding to establish a national office that would, among other objectives, support the development of Student Counselling Services so they best meet the needs of students both now and into the future. In 2021 a consortium consisting of TUS, DkIT and PCHEI received funding for the project, ‘PCHEI Data set – Evidence base on counselling engagements, referrals and supports.’ The completion of this project will facilitate the gathering of data regarding the number of students engaged in counselling and with supports in HEIs on a national basis.
In the Further Education and Training (FET) area, learners may have access to internal psychological supports from qualified ETB staff. Funding for these supports are dispersed under general individual programme and learner support headings. SOLAS allocates funding for Guidance, Counselling and Psychological Services for Youthreach participants.
