Dr. Paul Downes:

I understand the Ombudsman for Children is preparing a report for the committee on specialist emotional counselling and therapeutic supports. I very much hope the second level focus will be there for specialist emotional counselling supports in schools, as there are in many European counties. We are not talking about a huge amount of money. We could have a system of the specialist supports that are urgently needed.

On the Deputy's wider point, there is a role across the school system for mentoring and social and emotional supports from the guidance counsellor or others in the school system. One would hope that a supportive school culture would include a range of adults. For many who are alienated from the school system, and there are strong links between bullying and non-attendance at school and early school leaving, a teacher may not be the best person for a child to open up to. Students have told me on a number of occasions that they would be concerned about opening up to a teacher as opposed to other health professionals.