Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This morning I met with the INTO. The first issue I wish to raise with the Minister is the need to reduce class sizes by two pupils in budget 2023. The other issue is that the number of pupils at primary level looking for behavioural and emotional intervention has significantly increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, referrals to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and other services have risen by 40%. As such, the INTO is now looking for a national framework to be put in place to inform the development of counselling services for primary school children and the introduction of on-site school counselling in primary schools, in line with international best practice. I will also speak to the Minister, Deputy Foley, about this. I firmly believe funding needs to be put in place for this.

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