Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I was one of the career guidance counsellors cut from the school system in 1985 when the then Minister decided that schools with 250 pupils should not have a full-time guidance counsellor. My guidance and counselling hours were reduced from full time to only three hours. I do not want to revert to this. As resources and personnel permit, I would like to return to the circumstances that existed in 1985. I strongly believe that in times of financial and personnel constraint, there is a need to strengthen ancillary services, although this is an integral part of education.

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