Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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696. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the student welfare supports available to students of third level institutions; the resources, training and back-up support services provided to colleges and universities from the various State agencies and bodies responsible for overseeing the provision of both welfare services and mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6788/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The range of services for students in HEA funded higher education institutions, include the supports provided by Access Offices. In particular these offices co-ordinate pre and post-entry pastoral and academic supports for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as for mature student entrants. Among the supports administered by the access offices, in conjunction with student services is the Student Assistance Fund.

The Student Assistance Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. The Fund is allocated annually to the universities, the institutes of technology, the colleges of education and a number of other higher education institutions. The objective of the Fund is to provide financial assistance to full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students in need of such support. The Fund is intended to support students whose participation in higher education would otherwise be at risk as a direct result of financial difficulties.

The Fund is designed to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with ongoing needs for financial support and students with other circumstances giving rise to short or longer-term financial difficulties, including family responsibilities, bereavement, family difficulties, accidents or health problems. In all cases, institutions are responsible for targeting the available resources at those students most in need.

Also, the Higher Education Authority manages the Fund for Students with Disabilities on behalf of the Department. The purpose of the this Fund is to enable students with disabilities to fully access and participate in approved programmes in Further and Higher education. The scheme covers the costs for education institutions of putting in place a range of accommodations, assistance and equipment required to enable participation.

In addition, Core funding for access and disability services is allocated by the HEA as part of the overall annual budget of each higher education institution. In conjunction with the overall core grant, this funding supports the infrastructure of staff, services and supports for students with disabilities, school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and mature entrants.