Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will identify appropriate avenues of funding which may be available to an organisation (details supplied) in order to assist it in its work promoting positive mental health in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48455/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware my Department launched the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice 2018-2023 in July 2018.The policy statement provides an overarching structure encompassing existing, ongoing and developing work in the area of wellbeing. It builds on the good work already happening in schools to ensure that best practice in whole-school wellbeing promotion is embedded across the system.  The policy outlines a multicomponent, whole school preventative approach to the promotion of wellbeing with interventions at both universal and targeted levels. This policy requires that a Wellbeing Promotion Process is developed and implemented, through the use of the School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process, in all schools by 2023.

The policy includes a set of Statements of Effective Practice in relation to wellbeing promotion within the school system. The statements will support schools in reviewing their current provision in four key areas of wellbeing promotion, culture, curriculum, policy and partnership and in setting goals for improvement.  The Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice is available on my Department’s website for information.

In order to support schools in the implementation of this Wellbeing Policy it is planned to develop and rollout a comprehensive programme of professional development, commencing in 2019.  This will include facilitating the engagement of schools in the school self-evaluation wellbeing promotion process, which will build professional capacity in schools.  It also includes the provision of a comprehensive and easily-accessible set of resources to address school-identified wellbeing promotion needs.  The roll out will be aligned with the Junior Cycle Wellbeing Programme and the Schools for Health Programme delivered through the HSE, Health Promotion Service.  Schools may continue to access existing support available through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), Health and Wellbeing Team, the Junior Cycle for Teachers and National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

There are many resources that have been developed which support implementation of the wellbeing policy in the school context.It is a matter for the school management to consider use, having due regard for the aims and objectives of the SPHE curriculum and the Junior Cycle Wellbeing Guidelines.  Schools are also advised to be cognisant of DES, Circular 0042 & 43 /2018 and when considering collaborating with external agencies or commercial concerns in doing work related to wellbeing promotion in schools.  

My Department does not provide funding for any programmes for which it has no direct involvement or oversight function, nor is it in a position to endorse or review such programmes,  as for instance, the example provided in the Deputy’s question. School authorities must therefore look to both the appropriateness of using any external resource, programme or process and the resourcing implications thereof to the school.