Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I have read all of their opening statements. As usual, I am bouncing between two committees. I thank them for joining us.

A few things occurred to me. In his opening statement, Dr. Morning spoke about intersectionality. It seems to me there is intersectionality between the things that impact on our mental health. Having sat on the governing authority of NUIG, our hope was to reach out beyond the community within the university to organisations outside of it. I think in particular of Jigsaw and SpunOut. Is there an opportunity, when we are looking at funding, to think about co-funding? We are not just talking about the funding of higher education, but about funding organisations that have a direct impact on the lives of students and staff within that organisation.

It is welcome that we have the €5 million from the Minister, Deputy Harris. In third level education, reaching out through the institute itself is only one way in which people reach out. There were comments on funding for counselling. Am I correct in saying that it is not just about funding for counselling for people in third level? There should be a lifelong approach that reaches out beyond the walls of our third level institutions.

We have done a significant amount of work in this committee on bullying in primary and secondary education. I would love to hear the thoughts of the witnesses on the impact of that, the trauma it causes in primary and secondary school and how it would have a knock-on impact on people in third level education. Is that thought through in terms of a trajectory and approach to mental health that runs through all of our institutions?