Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The decision I took last year, somewhat reluctantly, was to mainstream guidance counsellors in post-primary schools. In some cases this had no impact on the overall allocation because the size of the school was such that full-time counsellors continued in their positions. Where smaller secondary schools were involved, a decision was made by the principals about the best allocation of scarce resources to that school in terms of requiring a guidance counsellor who was also a qualified teacher to spend part of his or her time teaching a subject in the classroom as well as providing guidance. While we talk about guidance, it is fair to point out that in many respects the concern in recent years and months has been about the pastoral care dimension of the role of guidance counsellor, as distinct from traditional career guidance. That is what the Deputy is stressing.

There is the backup service of the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, for acute problems. Ultimately, there is a responsibility on the principal and board of management of the school to contact me or explain directly to the Department if they are unable to cope with the volume of problems they currently have. To my knowledge, I have received no communications in the Department of such concerns from principals.

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