Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister's engagement with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. I would hate to see a school lose its entire guidance provision. The support provided to students by guidance teachers in providing advice, support and information on third level options and a range of wider supports concerning the well-being of the student is invaluable.

Schools have a statutory obligation to provide such facilities for their students. The Education Act is not changing and the obligation on a school to deliver within the Act remains. I have corresponded with the Minister on this obligation and very much welcome his amendment's commitment to reiterate the nature of provision within the Education Act in his Department's next circular to schools. Giving school principals the power to allocate resources as they see fit is the best step forward.

These are difficult circumstances but nobody on this side of the House is in favour of increasing suicide or of any other such charge.

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