Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2024
550. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allocate €6 million in multi-annual core funding for mental health services in higher education institutions and invest to improve the counsellor-to-student ratios to international standards as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecognising the pressures on students arising from COVID and cost-of-living issues, since 2020 my Department has provided a total of €25.9 million in additional funding to Higher Education Institutions to support mental health measures for students on their educational journey.
This funding is to further support Higher Education Institutions in meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of their student population and in implementing the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework (2020).
HEIs in receipt of this additional funding are encouraged to distribute it in support of specific student-facing areas, such as:
• Recruitment of additional Student Counsellors
• Recruitment of additional Assistant Psychologists
• Head of Service posts
• Training of staff to enable them to support and refer students to appropriate services.
• Raising awareness among students of mental health and wellbeing services available, including through student outreach activities
The majority of new posts created through this funding have been counsellors, reflecting the capacity building phase of the implementation of the Framework.
HEIs have reported a breadth of positive impacts, from a reduction in engagement times to an increase in the number of sessions provided.
As autonomous bodies the internal disbursement of funding, including the funding and expansion of student services and mental health supports, is a matter for the individual institution.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Estimates process in ongoing. While I cannot pre-empt the budgetary process, addressing supports for students will be a priority for me in the Budget 2025 discussions.
