James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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784. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention at third level educational institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46708/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Counselling and other supports are currently available in most Third Level institutions in Ireland for students, and there are already good and innovative practices aimed at supporting students experiencing mental health difficulties in many institutions. I have just completed a review process through the National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health. The Taskforce included representation of third level students, and it will make a number of recommendations in this area when I publish its findings in December. These are:

- The current provision of counselling and mental health supports in higher level institutions should be maintained and enhanced;

- The Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Skills should develop appropriate indicators to assess student experience in higher education in the system performance framework for higher education; and

- Prioritise the implementation of recommendations contained in “Mental Health Matters”. The “Mental Health Matters - Mapping Best Practices in Higher Education’ report was carried out to give a voice to students with mental health difficulties and to hear the experiences of professional staff in third level education. Of the 28 Higher Education Institutes (HEI), 22 took part in the report.

- Oversight of the third level sector is the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Skills who may be able to provide further information on services to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention at that level.