Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has ensured additional counselling and other resources for those students seriously affected by recent gangland crime and murder in the North Inner City of Dublin. [10759/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides guidelines and resource materials for schools to enable them to deal with certain traumatic events which can adversely affect pupils and teachers. The guidelines refer to preventative approaches that schools can adopt in creating a safe and supportive environment.

The publication provides step-by-step guidelines for teachers and principals on how to respond when a tragedy occurs. It offers support to schools at a potentially overwhelming time. NEPS has also provided schools with additional guidance material in relation to social media use and critical incidents. The guidelines focus on alerting schools to planning processes, structures and actions which will better allow them to cope with traumatic incidents such as suicide, murder, accidental death including road traffic accidents and drowning, and death through illness of members of the school community. In relation to suicide, advice is also given on prevention and positive mental health approaches.

NEPS psychologists will also, at the specific invitation of school authorities, provide advice and attend at the schools immediately following such incidents to offer direct assistance to school staff and/or pupils.

In relation to the instances raised by the Deputy, I can confirm that staff from the psychological services have been in contact with, and attended at, schools in the North Inner City. In line with the Critical Incident Guidelines, schools have been advised to ensure maintenance of a safe secure and calm school environment. Advice and support have been provided to staff in these schools in relation to how to deal with the traumatic effects on the pupils in their care at an age appropriate level, to be vigilant as to how effects of the trauma might manifest and to identify pupils at risk for referral to the appropriate clinical support service. Schools have also been advised as to how to communicate similar advice to parents in de-stressing and rationalising the situation for their children.

At a community level, NEPS has been involved in a consultation with the local Children's/ Young People's Services Committee to support a cross-agency co-ordinated response in Dublin's North-Inner City. This involves Tusla, the HSE and other voluntary agencies.

The Deputy will understand that it would not necessarily be prudent or appropriate to identify the particular schools involved but I can assure her that ongoing support is available to any school which requires support.