Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

When talking about a subject, one should refer to the experts. I was contacted by an expert on this subject, a guidance counsellor. Her letter states:

1. The Guidance & Counselling Service was the first government funded counselling service in the state. For 35 years, the department of education has been funding this vital service to all second level students, those in further education and in prisons.

2. Guidance counsellors provide a professional counselling service to their students at a fraction of the cost of other state funded counselling services...

3. Guidance counsellors refer students to state funded and private counselling services. We support the students who sometimes have to wait up to 2 years before being seen by other agencies. These services are already under huge pressure and will not be able to cope with the massive increase in referrals from schools.

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