Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have one further question. On the module work on Covid and school bullying, one of the key recommendations was the appointment of therapeutic emotional counsellors on site. This could even be done on a pilot or trial basis. I do not want to hear the Minister say it could be done in conjunction with guidance counsellors. The guidance counsellors have enough to do and enough responsibility in their own right.

We have had this conversation with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors at some of our meetings. Has the Minister or her Department considered this issue as I know that it has come to her attention outside of the work of the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science? Has any research work been done on such appointments within her own Department for schools, even if this was on a pilot or shared basis between schools, or whatever? Definitely these people were required to be on site and it was a key recommendation for both modules of work.