Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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863. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a response will issue to matters raised in a media article (details supplied); the status of the promised €2 million directed in 2019 to mental health and well-being services in the higher education sector; the way in which the funding is drawn down; the amount that has been allocated; and the colleges that have received the funding. [21751/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The mental health and wellbeing of students is of paramount importance to my Department. The additional 2020 allocation of €2 million in support of mental health services and wellbeing was made available to higher education institutions via the HEA funding allocation model earlier this year. Each institution has received a share, based on the number of students registered, with the funding earmarked to assist institutions in supporting students with their mental health and wellbeing. The HEA will be following up with institutions on this funding allocation as part of the implementation of the new framework. The €2m was allocated in early 2020 as part of each institutions grant letter with the following line included: This includes an allocation of €2m to assist institutions in supporting students with their mental health and wellbeing.