Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
2078. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the increases to third level mental health spending introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic will be considered to be made permanent; what funding will be provided for mental health in higher education in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39257/23]
View answerThe HEA manages on behalf of my Department the provision of €2m per annum funding to HEIs to enable the delivery and enhancement of student mental health supports including service delivery through the recurrent funding model (RFAM).
From 2020 to 2023, an additional €3m per annum was provided to the HEIs to facilitate the enhancement of supports while institutions dealt with the challenges presented by the pandemic. Through this a number of national projects have been funded including supporting sector wide implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework and building capacity across the higher education system.
It is my intention to set out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the Budgetary process this Autumn and I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with details of funding for 2024 until this process is complete.
