Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has engaged with the Department of Health regarding a universal GP visit card for third-level students in order that more students particularly those experiencing mental-health and wellbeing challenges can access medical and primary care without financial barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21753/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Student Mental Health and Wellbeing is a key priority area for the Government and this is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to support students mental health and wellbeing.

I am pleased to tell you that as a part of Budget 2026 I secured an additional €1 million which represents a 20% increase, in ringfenced funding, to support mental health initiatives, in addition to funding other institutional supports through core funding.

This means that I am allocating €6 million for Mental Health and Wellbeing initiatives in Higher Education for 2026 and future years. Since 2020, cumulative dedicated funding provided for mental health and well-being initiatives in Higher Education has been €37.9m.

In relation to mental health services, higher education institutions provide counselling services, which are free to registered students. They also provide on-campus student health services to students, including GP and nurse consultations. Most services are free-of-charge or heavily subsidised for registered students.

On a related matter, making an application for a GP Visit Card has been identified as one of the key public services for individuals making the transition from secondary to tertiary education, under the Life Event approach set out in the Digital Public Services Plan 2030. The Digital Public Services Plan is a Government initiative to digitise and reorganise public services around major life events, with the objective of making them more integrated and intuitive for the public to access.

My Department is leading the development of the Life Event covering the transition from secondary to further or higher education and has been in contact with the Health Service Executive on associated aspects of the plan.

In respect of GP services for students it is important to note that healthcare and counselling services are typically made available to higher education students through their institutions, therefore the availability of a universal GP visit card for third-level students has not been a matter for discussion between my Department and the Department of Health.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.