Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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36. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Tusla counselling grant awarded to secondary schools will be increased to facilitate the number of students seeking counselling within secondary schools (details supplied). [28061/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am deeply cognisant of the difficulties faced by young people at this time, particularly with regard to their mental health. Tusla, the Child and Family provides significant funding to third parties, generally in the community and voluntary sector, for the provision of commissioned services.

Decisions regarding individual funding allocations are operational matters for Tusla. I have referred this and the Deputy's previous question (Question 165 of 19 May 2021) to Tusla, regarding funding for a specific secondary school, for direct reply.

The Deputy will understand that any reply on this matter will be delayed, in the context of the impact on Tusla of the recent cyber attack on HSE systems. Tusla will be able to advise the Deputy, when operationally possible, regarding the source of the funding raised by the Deputy.