Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this. I did not think we were going to reach that question in oral questions. I do not have my physical answer to hand but I commit to coming back to the Deputy in writing on this today. At a high level, however, what programmes are provided by universities is an autonomous decision for them. No one wants me deciding what a university should or should not provide. It is an autonomous decision for universities. That is not to say I do not care about this issue. The Deputy is quite right that children's mental health services is an area in need of urgent attention. If there is anything my Department can do to help Trinity College Dublin on that, we will not be found wanting. On foot of the Deputy's question, I will make direct contact with Trinity myself to determine if this was a decision it made and was happy to make or if it was a decision it could overcome if there was a bit of assistance. I will revert to the Deputy later today.

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