Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 598: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to provide counselling and appropriate guidance where children have experienced violence in the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32033/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Education and Science, I am always concerned for the general welfare of children. Any experience that interferes with a child's potential for learning is of particular concern to me. The National Education Psychological Service, NEPS, of my Department provides an educational psychological service to primary and post-primary schools. The NEPS also supports all schools in the context of traumatic incidents arising from violence in the home or in community. When a case involving circumstances such as those mentioned by the Deputy comes to the attention of NEPS, guidance counsellors, teachers or principals, the child in question is always referred to the Health Service Executive at local level for appropriate investigative and therapeutic services. In addition, a guidance and counselling service is available in all post-primary schools.