Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
624. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of psychologists employed to work at higher education institutes; the cost of each of these positions annually; and the location each position is based. [20561/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, including the funding of student services, is a matter for the individual institution.
Details of expenditure incurred in respect of counselling services in the third level sector are outlined below. Data in respect of subsequent academic years is not readily available at this time, however, it is expected that it would be broadly in line with previous years.
|
|
Universities & Colleges (incl MIC, NCAD & St. Angela's College) |
IoTs |
|
2013/14 |
€3,963,627 |
€2,038,106 |
|
2014/15 |
€3,853,638 |
€2,185,196 |
|
2015/16 |
€4,185,682 |
€2,299,286 |
As per information previously provided by the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland in 2017 – c.13,400 students availed of counselling services for the 2015/16 academic year.
All Institutions are required to have in place appropriate student services, which includes counselling services and health promotion. As part of their services to students, each institution considers what is most appropriate in the particular context of their own institution and their student’s needs, while also considering best practice models such as peer-led support programmes and seeking to liaise with external services to the fullest extent possible.
In budget 2020 an additional annual allocation of €2m was provided to the higher education sector to assist institutions in supporting students with their mental health and wellbeing. This funding for 2020 and future years is in addition to existing spending by institutions and was made available to Higher Education Institutions as part of their grant allocations via the HEA.
On 22 July I announced a substantial package of supports for third level institutions and students to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19. This package includes an additional allocation of €3million for mental health and well-being to assist Higher Education Institutions in the provision of appropriate supports for learners. The distribution of the funds will be finalised over the coming days and weeks with key stakeholders. Further details will be made available as soon as this process has been completed.
