Minister for Education and Youth Announces Details of Wellbeing Grant Scheme

Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, has announced details of a Wellbeing Grant Scheme to augment the supports being provided by Education Wellbeing Teams in school clusters in Cork.

All schools taking part in Strand Two of the Counselling and Mental Health Pilots in Primary Schools are set to receive a payment of €2,000 to promote and support wellbeing-focused initiatives among their school communities in the 2025/2026 school year. Examples of the types of initiatives which schools may put the grant funding towards include developing wellbeing gardens, purchasing sensory regulation equipment, running Wellbeing Ambassador programmes and other wellbeing-promoting interventions.

Minister Naughton said “Every child and young person in our schools should have the very best opportunity to thrive. It is a priority of mine, as such, to ensure we provide supports which help to protect and enhance children’s wellbeing. The Counselling and Mental Health Pilots in Primary Schools includes the establishment of Education Wellbeing Teams, which is a new type of support for schools. These are currently working with school communities in clusters in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16.

Schools included in Cork are listed below:

Deputy O’Shea added “I am delighted to see this grant scheme announced and for schools in Cork to be included. This grant will further help Schools to support their work through facilitating the development of innovative and inclusive wellbeing initiatives.”

Strand Two of the Counselling and Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilots sees newly established Education Wellbeing Teams, comprised of Education Wellbeing Practitioners and a lead NEPS psychologist, supporting clusters of schools in promoting wellbeing and mental health.

The teams provide psycho-educational support to parents and teachers and early intervention to children with mild or emerging needs. The pilot is being delivered under the direction and supervision of the National Educational Psychological Service.

For further information on the Counselling and Mental Health Pilots in Primary Schools, see www.gov.ie/counsellingpilot