Minister for Mental Health & Older people, Mary Butler TD, has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD, of €17.2 million in student supports and €5 million to support students’ mental health and wellbeing.
Waterford Institute of Technology will receive €886,795 for their student assistance fund while IT Carlow will get €751,000.
The Student Assistance Fund provides financial support to full or part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college. Students can apply for the Student Assistance Fund to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties.
“Students have had an extremely difficult 18 months due to Covid-19. It is very welcome that they are now back on campus but significant supports are required. The student assistance fund is there to help students with costs associated with being a student such as books, class materials, rent and bills etc.” stated Waterford TD Mary Butler.
Minister Butler has also warmly welcomed the additional funding of €212,000 for mental health and wellbeing in Waterford IT.
The mental health funding will be used to; recruit additional student counsellors, recruit additional assistant psychologists, raise awareness among students of mental health and wellbeing services available and support the implementation of the Framework for Consent in HEIs.
“The health and wellbeing of students is paramount as they settle back into the academic year. I would like students to know that if they are experiencing mental health difficulties the supports are there. Students can text TALK to 50808 to avail of a free 24/7 text service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support. My Mind provide free counselling online in 17 different languages. www.belongto.org provides support, information and groups for LGBTI+ young people in Ireland also” concluded Minister Butler.
