Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The conversation I was listening to last week related to shared services between schools in each county. In the system we are all used to, the guidance counsellor is always based in the school, but that should not be the way. Mr. Brownlee was dead right about trained teachers going on to be guidance counsellors, or whatever the story is. In each county, there should be six or seven guidance counsellors and they should go out to different schools, with each of them having a different skill set. They would not have to talk to students individually but in first, second or third year, they could prepare them as they go along. I forget now what programme it was on, but the person was talking about shared services having to work in each county. There are not a huge number of secondary schools in each county. It could be ten, 15 or whatever. There is a need for a shared services approach.

Deputy O'Callaghan asked about leaving certificate results and the timing of them. How does it work in the North? I am not overly familiar with the results system there. How does it differ from the Republic of Ireland?