Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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No, the circular states that the school must apply the additional post being made available for guidance. We do not insist that it is by a guidance counsellor. The guidance plan is a plan drawn up predominately with the leadership of the guidance counsellor. We are supporting the guidance plan. Deputy Thomas Byrne raised this point. I do not detect that principals are trying to undermine counselling in any way. In fact, the opposite is the case. When I meet principals throughout the country, it seems that they recognise the importance of well-being support and that they are supportive of the investment in guidance and well-being supports generally.

I do not see, as some would project it, principals trying to undermine some objective in the restoration of guidance. This is why, in light of concerns expressed, we are doing a survey; to establish what are the facts on the ground. It is not my understanding that there is a substantial amount of maths teachers or others who are providing guidance. It is a small element of a plan that we do no debar the use of those teachers and the guidance plan does not. The models on which our guidance model is based perceive guidance as a whole school responsibility and not just the responsibility of one individual teacher within the school. It is within that model that the circular was drawn up.