Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

859. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide specific funding for an initiative to be rolled out in all counties across the State. [19806/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Education published the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice in 2018 and refreshed it in 2019. The Policy outlines a comprehensive and whole-school approach in schools to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health, focusing on the entire school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified need.  This spans the curriculum in schools, culture and environment, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care, guidance counselling and the provision of professional development for teachers.   This approach provides children and young people with opportunities to:

- build core social and emotional skills and competencies

- experience supportive relationships within the school setting

- be part of a school environment and culture that feels  both physically and psychologically safe, in which they feel a sense of belonging and connectedness, that their voice is heard, and they feel supported

Schools are encouraged to use a reflective, school self-evaluation approach to identify and prioritise the needs of its own school community in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health, and to respond to meeting those needs.  Embedded in the whole-school approach is the recognition that members of the school community may have different needs at different times and that a continuum of support in relation to wellbeing should be made available.

A broad range of supports, resources and professional learning opportunities are provided to support schools to promote and support wellbeing and resilience.  The services support schools to provide strong universal support at the level of whole school and classroom, more targeted support for some children and young people who may be at risk, and more individualised support for those with greatest need. 

At present, as an organization working in the field of mental health promotion, responsibility

for the funding of Jigsaw rests primarily with the Department of Health, but I am aware of the excellent work that Jigsaw carries out in the community to support the mental health of our young people.