Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated for mental health initiatives in schools in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11034/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government includes a range of initiatives on mental health including the establishment of a National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health to consider how best to introduce and teach resilience, coping mechanisms, greater awareness to children and young people, and how to access support services voluntarily at a young age. Responsibility for mental health initiatives for young people is shared across a number of Government Departments and agencies including the Department of Health, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Health Service Executive and Tusla.

My own Department is committed to work in this area. Under the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015, a new area of learning entitled "Wellbeing" will be a mandatory part of Junior Cycle with effect 2017. This is currently being developed by the NCCA. Support for teachers in promoting wellbeing, including the positive mental health of young people in schools is an important part of the work of the Department's Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). Funding for the initiatives has yet to be finalised. In recent years the Government has put in place a range of initiatives on mental health in education.

In 2014, over €260000 was provided towards various anti-bullying initiatives, including training courses for parents and teachers.

An audit of expenditure related to mental health for the school sector for 2015 provided the following data:

€0.07m was used to carry out a collaborative research project by the Inspectorate on "Schools' Provision for Students' Wellbeing" in 20 primary and post-primary schools.

The National Education Psychological Service (NEPS) in my Department estimates an expenditure of €0.72m for staff time used to support teachers in implementing the wellbeing guidelines and other initiatives that would indirectly enhance positive mental health approaches. The total NEPS budget for 2016 was €18.25m.

In the area of teacher education including the PDST, €1.5m has been spent on a variety of provision at primary and post-primary level to support teachers in the area of wellbeing.

In addition, €3 million has been provided for guidance, counselling and psychological services in Youthreach and Community Training Centres.