412. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health her views on ‘recovery colleges’; and whether there are plans to open one in Cork. [54085/26]

Recovery Education is a vital component in the transformation of mental health services. It is an educational response to the recovery needs of service users, family members, carers, supporters, and service providers. Recovery Education programmes are underpinned by the values and principles of both recovery and adult education, and as Minister I have supported them with additional investment.

Recovery Education takes a strengths-based and adult education approach which offers the choice to engage in learning opportunities. It is influenced by the values of self-direction, personal experience, ownership, diversity, and hopefulness.

Recovery Education uses an adult education approach to facilitate mental health recovery. Module/course content is co-produced and co-facilitated by people with lived experience of mental health challenges, family members/carers/supporters, service providers and community partners.

There are currently 15 Recovery Colleges in operation across the country including one which launched in Newmarket in Cork last year, and in Budget 2026 I secured funding to develop five new mental health Discovery Colleges for young people. The rollout of additional recovery colleges will be considered in future Estimates processes, as with all new developments.