Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will we see an increase in the school completion budget this year, which is what we need given the increasing number of children in the system, the increasing complexities with which those in the school completion programme must deal, and the fact that the Government has slashed the guidance service available to schools throughout the country? In recent weeks I visited a disadvantaged school and met one guidance counsellor trying to cope with more than 800 students. The availability of a school completion programme in locations such as this is absolutely essential. More than anyone, the Minister realises the importance of preventing problems. He is quite correct to state that if the school completion programme can operate effectively it prevents people from falling into various categories which later cost the State a huge amount to deal with. Will the Minister give us a commitment to ring-fence funding for the school completion programme and increase it in line with Tusla's budgetary increases?

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