Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This dates way back to beyond my time. The guidance plan dates back to 2004 and it has always envisaged that it is more than guidance counsellors and that it is a whole school responsibility. The plan always provided that there was scope for other than the guidance counsellors but it envisages the guidance counsellor as a core element. The guidance plan is built around the professional delivery of the guidance counselling service. It is not an exclusive thing but to satisfy Deputies' concerns, I am conducting a survey in order that we can establish what is the practice and approach.