Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Right across society, we are conscious that there have most definitely been impacts from Covid. In the Department, we previously provided significant funding through the catch-up fund in order that additional resources could be made available to schools. This was so that they could decide what best met the needs of students. Equally, there is significant funding and increased opportunities for those who want to engage in the summer provision programme, which is open to children with additional needs, as well as those at risk of educational disadvantage.

Specifically in the area of counselling, there are views, including among many members of this committee. I also have a view, coming as I do, from a teaching background. Even before Covid, there was an opening for the provision of counselling services at primary school level. I am very pleased that we are rolling that out on a pilot basis. There are two strands to the pilot. On one, panels are formed in the pilot areas and the schools can draw down from those panels. That is currently being rolled out. The second strand being piloted is where the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists are working with well-being practitioners. The training for them has been completed. They are now beginning to be rolled out into the schools. I am pleased that we have two different types of models, as it were, so that at the end of the day we will be able to adjudicate which model, or maybe a combination of the two models, will best meet our needs going forward. It is a new step for primary education, but it is a valuable one.