Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

Mental Health Supports in Schools and Tertiary Education: Discussion

Mr. John Curtis:

That is the problem. Again, prior to the cutbacks around 2010, there were more opportunities for people to get money back, if you like, in the system. We could look at it because the Deputy is right that there are people in the system who would be brilliant in the areas of mental health and looking after the students. At school level we would know who they are, but perhaps we could get those people to do a training course whereby they are not disadvantaged financially and the school has some kind of means of release. We have huge problems at the moment, especially in the area of guidance counselling. We just do not have enough people out there. I absolutely take the point about fluidity. It is hugely important.