Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is blazing a trail in the Department but this intervention will go down as the most important of all. We have discussed therapeutic hours many times. I see them as key to unlocking many of the problems that arise in a school day in, day out. They also ensure that the child goes down the corridor to a familiar face and does not go on a child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, NEPS or referral waiting list for six, 12 or 18 months, which is a huge crisis in itself. It makes a lot of sense for them to go down the corridor to someone familiar to them and where many of the emotional behaviour and mental health issues can be dealt with and worked through in the school environment. I am delighted that the Minister has expanded this to include play and music therapists, etc. The sooner this is a full-on, fully-funded, full-loaded national scheme, the better. Does the Minister have any ideas as regards people with an educational psychology degree at third level playing a more expansive role in this area? I congratulate the Minister.

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