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

This tragedy that confronts us all is not just a guidance counsellors issue, although they are central to its resolution in many respects. It is a community issue, including within the school itself. As the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, stated when we launched the document, if a person is in trouble or feels the need to access help, he or she should feel free in the first instance to approach a member of staff and the school staff community should empower itself so that, if a young person approaches whoever it happens to be seeking help, then that person should be able to refer him or her to the guidance counsellor in the first instance. If the counsellor is of the view that the issue is beyond his or her professional competence, the young person should be referred to the relevant health authorities in the HSE. This framework did not exist previously. It is the product of a good working group. School communities should be reinforced by the collective "we are all in this together" view, not take the view that bullying and pastoral care are uniquely the responsibility of one or two guidance counsellors.

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