Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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791. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the investment that has been made by the Government into student mental-health services over the past three academic years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25657/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The mental health and well-being of students is a priority for my Department. My Department has progressed a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), over the last number of years to address the mental health and well-being issues faced by students in higher education.

I have provided €15.9 million through the Higher Education Authority to support student mental health and well-being activities in Irish Higher Education Institutions since 2020. (This includes €900,000 that was made available in 2022 to support Ukrainian students registered in Irish HEIs.)

This funding supports the implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework hea.ie/assets/uploads/2020/10/HEA-NSMHS-Framework.pdf and the Healthy Campus Charter and Framework, hea.ie/assets/uploads/2023/03/Healthy-Campus-Charter-and-Framework.pdf both of which are overseen by the Higher Education Authority.

The following is a breakdown of funding at Higher Education level.

*includes once off €0.9m for Ukraine Students.

In the Further Education & Training sector, learners may have access to internal psychological supports from qualified ETB staff. In recognition of importance of professional development opportunities for FET staff for underpinning a quality service and to promote mental wellbeing amongst learners, the FET sector provides access to digital resources, including health and wellbeing resources that support FET practitioners, aiming to enhance teaching and learning practices and subsequently, the educational experience for learners.

Additionally, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), on behalf of the ETB FET sector, has developed a FET Learner Mental Health Framework. This Framework reviewed and reflected on current mental health and wellbeing supports, and identifies challenges, as well as areas, in which improvements are required.