Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the steps his Department is taking to ensure that schools have adequate mental health support services in place for both primary and post-primary pupils; and (ii) any plans to increase access to these services in the 2025-26 academic year.
Minister of Education: I am pleased that I have been able to protect the current level of funding that my department contributes to the joint investment, with the Department of Health, to a combined total of around £5m per annum to support programmes identified under the joint Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework, in what is a significantly challenging budget settlement for education.
It is also important to note that schools continue to have flexibility to use their individual budgets to best meet the identified needs of their pupils and in some circumstances, they may employ the services of a counsellor or therapist from existing funds.
Any immediate, and appropriately assessed, need for counselling or therapy remains available through health services, including CAMHS and associated clinical pathways to support services.
While our schools are encouraged to provide a supportive and nurturing environment, the provision of mental health and therapeutic services for children and young people is ultimately within the remit of the health service and should be delivered by appropriately qualified and registered health professionals (i.e. counsellors and therapists).
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