Funding of €423k from the Government’s Student Hardship Fund and an additional €113k for wellbeing measures will ensure that third-level students in DKIT have access to vital financial and mental health supports.

The pandemic, and remote learning in particular, took its toll on the mental health of many third-level students across the North East.

“As students have now returned to university and college campuses, we need to make sure that additional measures are in place so that students can access the support they need” said Deputy Fergus O’Dowd.

 “The Government invested €5 million in mental health services and hiring extra staff last year, and Minister Simon Harris has redoubled his commitment to this issue with this announcement of an additional €5 million to continue the provision of student counselling services. This vital funding stream, this will be used to:

• recruit additional Student Counsellors
• recruit additional Assistant Psychologists
• train HEI staff to enable them to support and refer students to appropriate services
• raise awareness among students of mental health and wellbeing services available, including through student outreach activities
• support implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework
• support implementation of the Framework for Consent in HEIs; Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions

“Along with mental health services, I know that the Student Hardship Fund is a vital support for many students across the country.

“It provides financial help to third-level students who experience monetary difficulties while attending college.

“Minister Harris has confirmed €17 million in funding for the Student Hardship Fund, which will go towards helping students with costs such as books, rent and utility bills, food, travel and more.”

Speaking on the announcement of the funding, Minister Harris said, “Students have endured an incredibly difficult 18 months due to Covid-19. They are now back on campus, but they still need significant support - financial and other. Today’s funding of €22 million is a direct investment in students to ensure the support they need is in place as they transition from remote to on-campus learning.”