Minister Naughton announces details of grant scheme for primary schools taking part in Counselling and Mental Health Pilots
- Published on: 18 December 2025
- Last updated on: 18 December 2025
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, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16.
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.
“I am delighted to announce the grant scheme for this school year which will further help to support their work through facilitating the development of innovative and inclusive wellbeing initiatives.”
For further information on the Counselling and Mental Health Pilots in Primary Schools, see gov.ie/counsellingpilot.
Notes to Editors
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.
| School Name | County |
|---|---|
| Fr. Cullen Memorial National School | Carlow |
| Bishop Foley Memorial School Boys Senior School | Carlow |
| Bennekerry National School | Carlow |
| Ballinabranna Mixed National School | Carlow |
| S N Muire Gan Smal | Carlow |
| Scoil Nais Iosef Naofa | Carlow |
| S N Ceatharlach | Carlow |
| St Laserian's Special School | Carlow |
| Holy Family National School | Carlow |
| Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc | Carlow |
| S N Naomh Fhiach | Carlow |
| Carlow Educate Together National School | Carlow |
| Our Lady's National School | Carlow |
| Newtown Dunleckney Mixed | Carlow |
| Scoil Nais Molaise | Carlow |
| St. Bridget’s Monastery Boys Senior School | Carlow |
| Baile an Chuilinn National School | Carlow |
| St Mary’s National School | Carlow |
| Queen of Universe National School | Carlow |
| St. Laserians Mixed National School | Carlow |
| St. Vincent’s Convent National School | Cork |
| S N Padraig Naofa | Cork |
| Scoil Iosagain | Cork |
| Scoil Chroí Íosa | Cork |
| S N Rath Dubh | Cork |
| Cara Junior School | Cork |
| Burnfort NS | Cork |
| S N Dhrom Athain | Cork |
| S N Ath Na Lionta | Cork |
| Scoil Colmcille | Cork |
| Scoil Ghobnatan | Cork |
| Convent Girls Senior National School | Cork |
| S N Naomh Padraig Boys Senior School | Cork |
| Scoil Aiseiri Chriost | Cork |
| Mallow Community National School | Cork |
| S N Iosagain | Cork |
| St Killian's Special School | Cork |
| Gaelscoil Thomais Daibhis | Cork |
| Gaelscoil Mhuscraí | Cork |
| Mhuire ar Chnoc hAoine | Cork |
| Scoil na mBrathar Boys Senior School | Dublin 7 |
| Broombridge Educate Together National School | Dublin 7 |
| Christ The King BNS | Dublin 7 |
| Christ The King Girls Senior School | Dublin 7 |
| Christ The King I G | Dublin 7 |
| St Catherine’s Infant School | Dublin 7 |
| S N Eoin Bosco Buach | Dublin 7 |
| S N Eoin Bosco Nai Buac | Dublin 7 |
| Dublin 7 Educate Together National School | Dublin 7 |
| North Dublin Muslim National School Project | Dublin 7 |
| Holy Family School for the Deaf | Dublin 7 |
| Fionnbarra Naofa BNS | Dublin 7 |
| St Vincent's Home National School | Dublin 7 |
| Dominican Convent Girls Senior School | Dublin 7 |
| St. Gabriel’s National School | Dublin 7 |
| St. Mary's Primary School | Dublin 7 |
| Presentation Primary School | Dublin 7 |
| Mary, Help of Christians GNS | Dublin 7 |
| Casa Caterina Special School | Dublin 7 |
| Stanhope St. Convent | Dublin 7 |
| Gaelscoil Bharra | Dublin 7 |
| St. Peter’s National School | Dublin 7 |
| Ballyroan BNS | Dublin 16 |
| Queen of Angels Primary School | Dublin 16 |
| Whitechurch National School | Dublin 16 |
| Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire Boy | Dublin 16 |
| St. Olaf's National School | Dublin 16 |
| Na Maighdine Muire Girl | Dublin 16 |
| Scoil Naithi | Dublin 16 |
| St. Attracta’s Junior National School | Dublin 16 |
| St. Attracta’s Senior National School | Dublin 16 |
| Saplings Special School Rathfarnham | Dublin 16 |
| St. Patrick GNS | Dublin 16 |
| Scoil Mhuire | Dublin 16 |
| Scoil Colmcille Naofa | Dublin 16 |
| St. Colmcille Senior National School | Dublin 16 |
| Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna | Dublin 16 |