Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but to a large extent, the junior cycle will take place within VECs. I acknowledge the VECs will be gone on foot of the enactment of the new education legislation but I refer to the successor bodies to the VECs. While I commend them on what they did, where mistakes are made and wrongdoing takes place, it must be righted.

I look forward to debating the relevant legislation and I hope the Minister and the Aire Stáit freisin will listen to the honest views of the people, will consult widely and will bring the whole school community with them. Moreover, in the forthcoming budget, they should revisit and review the damage that has been done on foot of the attack involving the removal of career guidance, because that service is a basic and integral part of a school's education system. As I stated, it is linked to issues such as cyberbullying and so on, as the career guidance counsellor is the one person who knows the students intimately and knows their situations, backgrounds and difficulties. As I stated, the students are happy, made at ease and encouraged by career guidance teachers. That is the most important part of it and one cannot go forward unless the foundations are right and unless the basic requirements are in place and working properly.

See this speech in context