Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Minister well in his new role but he will not be surprised to hear me raising the issue of mental health once again. It was announced last week with great fanfare that over €5 million was secured for student mental health supports in institutions of higher education nationwide. While any additional funding for mental health support is welcome, it is worth noting that this is not all new money. Approximately €2 million of this funding is old money and was promised by the Minister's predecessor in 2019. According to a report from the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, previously allocated money did not reach the institutions that needed it. In University College Cork, UCC, for example, the waiting list to see a guidance counsellor is nine weeks, which is not acceptable. The same report also states that there is no documentary evidence that the €2 million in funding that was allocated to UCC was actually provided. I have submitted some parliamentary questions on this issue and if the Minister has time at the end to respond, that would be fantastic.

Student counselling services are doing a great job but they are overstretched and under-resourced. These services are highly valued by students but accessing them can be a challenge. As I said, waiting nine weeks for an appointment with a counsellor is not good enough, especially in these times. Early intervention is key to preventing more acute mental health issues from manifesting. Higher education, like many other institutions, will find it hard to operate when online or blended learning are the only options. This could have a devastating effect on students and not just in the academic sense. Learning online requires a high degree of independent study that many will find difficult. I know from personal experience, as somebody who went into third-level education as an adult, that students rely heavily on the peer and lecturer support that they receive while attending college. Losing out on the overall college experience could have a detrimental effect on students and may have an impact on their ability to finish their education. While a qualification is the goal for students, the journey in achieving that qualification is just as important in terms of the personal development of students. The friendships students form with their peers can be lifelong and the solidarity of meeting deadlines together and cramming for exams together is important.

Let us not forget that part of student life involves student nights out. These are being missed at the moment as well. For the class of 2020, college life will be completely different for returning students and first-year entrants this autumn.

It is vital that the additional funding of €3 million recently announced goes straight to the colleges in order that they can provide the much-needed mental health supports for students. I call on the Minister with responsibility for higher education to ensure that institutions are closely monitored and that ongoing consultation is carried out with the relevant stakeholders to ensure all supports are in place to assist students in finishing their educational journey in these challenging time. Will the Minister ensure that the funding does not get lost in the red tape and bureaucracy?

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