Mr. Hugh Ahern:

In my school we have a mentor programme that is led by Ms Edel O'Donoghue, who is a career guidance teacher in the Patrician Academy. The programme consists of 20 fourth-year students, including myself. We work with first-year students on a weekly basis to ensure that they are settling into post-primary and we are there to deal with any of their concerns or issues. The programme is very much like the one in Coláiste Bhríde.

I wish to mention a programme provided in a university in Munster. I cannot recall the name of the university but I know it has a buddy programme that assists incoming first-years from post-primary to transition to higher education. I think that all schools should consider introducing the programme and maybe the Department could issue a circular or something to get the ball rolling. Funding must also be allocated for these programmes. I presume that if one wants to run the services that are there then one needs a certain amount of funding, say, €500, to facilitate the programme but I do know that whatever one decides to run does end up costly.