Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she has met with representatives of the Children's Mental Health Coalition; her policy on identifying and supporting students in schools who suffer from mental health problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33510/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I have not met the Children's Mental Health Coalition, but my colleague Mr. Barry Andrews T.D Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and officials of my Department have done so. I am aware of the manifesto of the Children's Mental Health Coalition, which recommends the provision of guidelines to schools on mental health, the expansion of the Social Personal and Health Education support team, and the delivery of SPHE in every school year.

The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme is a mandatory part of the curriculum in primary schools and in junior cycle since 2003 and is designed to promote positive mental health. It is already supported by comprehensive teacher guidelines and curriculum support services which provide training and advice for schools and a resource directory. Its aim is to foster personal development, health and well being of children, to help them create and maintain supportive relationships, and develop the skills and attitudes for responsible citizenship. SPHE is designed for implementation in the context of a caring whole-school approach which is supported by the pastoral care structures in schools.

The implementation of the SPHE curriculum has been supported by national programmes of professional development for teachers at primary and post primary level provided by the curriculum support services. These services continue to be maintained, but my Department is not in a position to expand them at the present time.

Schools also use Mental Health Matters, a resource pack on mental health for 14 to 18 year olds developed by Mental Health Ireland on an optional basis as a module in the Transition Year Programme, an element of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, a component of the SPHE programme or an element of other subjects such as Religion or Home Economics.

All post-primary schools also provide a guidance and counselling service for their students and they receive ex-quota hours from the Department for this provision. The service includes the provision of individual guidance and counselling for students either at critical stages in their education or at times of personal crisis.

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operating within my Department provides a range of services both direct and indirect which support the personal, social and educational development of all children in primary and post-primary schools. NEPS also liaises with HSE services as appropriate in its service to schools.

My Department's commitment to the NEPS service has been recently reiterated within the Renewed Programme for Government which commits to an overall expansion of NEPS psychologist numbers to 210. Through these initiatives, our school system works hard to promote positive mental health among students.