Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since the Minister introduced the cut to guidance counselling services last year, the service in schools throughout the country has been decimated. That was shown clearly by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors survey last week which showed that one-to-one time with students is down 50%, or halved. It also showed that guidance services in 13% of cases are being provided by unqualified guidance teachers.

When the Minister introduced the cut, he indicated that it was about empowering schools to make their own decisions. He has also indicated on several occasions since then, when challenged on this issue, that there should be a whole-school approach to guidance. There is no doubt there should be such an approach to guidance. It is important that each teacher plays their role. However, when each teacher plays a role, what happens when the student goes to the door of the guidance counsellor and the door is closed because the counsellor is not there? Not everything can be dealt with by the ordinary teachers.

The 700 guidance counsellors in this country are qualified for what they do. The Minister has decimated a sector and profession that it took years to build. Across the country, in many cases students are unable to get access to guidance counsellors. Then the problem escalates and in many instances they must be referred to the main mental health services with bigger problems. I ask the Minister to acknowledge the impact the cut has had.

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