Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The report also states, "there has been a growing recognition in most European countries of the need to support families in order to protect children, but Ireland lags well behind", so we are playing catch-up at this stage. One of the recommendations of the report is, "Increased collaboration between traditionally segregated adult and children’s services", for example, mental health services and schools. I met the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy two days ago. Association representatives have spoken to the Minister of State before. They spoke to me about their proposal for providing counselling and psychotherapy in secondary and primary schools. They say this service is going to be outside the scope that is already there for guidance councillors and would be on the recommendation of the school. This report could be a way of identifying children who need early intervention. Would this be something the Minister of State might work at? Could it be done in a cross-departmental way with the Department of Education?

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