Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) which is not classified as a DEIS school can avail of European Structural and Investment Funds; the funding that can be provided for sustainable, trauma-informed support structures if they cannot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32179/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of all children including those who may have experienced trauma.

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has engaged in extensive national training of school staff in the area of trauma-informed practice and have developed a eLearning course for school staff - ‘Introducing a Trauma Informed Approach: The Stress Factor - Getting the Balance Right’ which looks at the sources and impact of stress on children and young people including trauma and adverse experiences. It demonstrates how to create environments to reduce stress and focuses on developing skills that all children and young people need to better manage in school. NEPS psychologists are available to support schools implement trauma informed approaches in school following participation on the training. As a follow up to the elearning, NEPS will deliver a new live training called Understanding Trauma- Using a Trauma Informed Approach in Schools. This training builds on the learnings from e-Learning course by: further exploring the relationship between stress and trauma; looking at some contributary factors to trauma; Looking at how neuroscience theory and research has informed understanding of the impact of trauma; guiding schools to establish a trauma informed approach, providing practical school-based trauma-informed approaches to promote safety and connection in schools. A new standalone Trauma Informed Practice resource for schools will also be available in the autumn for schools to use. Training is provided as part of the NEPS service with no cost to schools.

A dedicated wellbeing portal can be accessed via ‘Wellbeing in Education’ on Gov.ie, bringing together all the wellbeing and mental health supports and resources that have been developed by the Department and the Department’s support services.

Any school can avail of EU funding and there is information, training, advice and helpdesk support available through www.accesseurope.ie or www.eufunds.ie