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€2.7 million announced for mental and financial wellbeing of Limerick students

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Limerick students wellbeing funding – TDs Niall Collins and Simon Harris of the Department of Further and Higher Education announced €22.2 million in national student welfare funding.

€2.7 million announced for mental and financial wellbeing of Limerick students

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

Limerick students wellbeing funding

UL will take the highest percentage of finance, with just over €1m in student assistance funding and €284,000 in mental health supports.


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Students of the University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College and the Technological University of the Shannon will benefit from €2.7 million in mental and financial wellbeing funding. 

In total, €22.2 million has been allocated to third-level student welfare nationwide, as part of a €105 million government package for Further and Higher Education.

€17.2 million in Student Assistance Funding will provide monetary support to full or part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college, available to help with costs such as books, rent, food and essential travel.

€5 million in student mental health funding combines €2 million pledged annually to ensure mental wellbeing in higher education with an additional €3 million, provided in response to the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This funding will help recruit student councillors and assistant psychologists, provide sexual harassment education and implement the upcoming National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework.

County Limerick TD and Minister of State to the Department of Further & Higher Education, Niall Collins, provided details on funding for Limerick universities.

UL will take the highest percentage of finance, with just over €1m in student assistance funding and €284,000 in mental health supports. TUS Limerick campus will receive assistance funds of over €600,000 in addition to mental health supports of €272,000. Finally, Mary Immaculate College will receive just under €400,000 in assistance funding and €104,000 for mental health. 

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said of the package, “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. The Student Assistance Fund is a fund that is in place for students who might be financially struggling, and today we are confirming €17 million for students.

“The long-term impact of the pandemic on young peoples mental health has the potential to be significant. This €5 million will enable the continued provision and enhancement of student counselling services and the roll-out of innovative mental health and wellbeing supports for students.”

For more information on financial supports for students, go HERE

For more information on mental health supports for students, go HERE

For more education stories, go HERE

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