Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the pilot programme for counselling services in seven schools, whether the programme has been formally evaluated; and if so, when the outcomes will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36496/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Youth is committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our children. I am delighted to update you on the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot. Strand 1 sees direct counselling supports being provided to primary schools for the first time. The Department set up county panels of pre-approved private counsellors providing one-to-one counselling in all 595 primary schools in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan and Tipperary. To date, 45 counsellors have been recruited across the seven pilot counties. In the 2023/2024 school year 382 children availed of counselling. To date, in the 2024/2025 school year, at least 653 children have availed of counselling.

Strand 2 is the introduction of Education Wellbeing Teams to provide enhanced in-school supports for a cluster of primary schools in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16. The Education Wellbeing Practitioner is a new type of practitioner being introduced as part of this pilot to provide enhanced in-school support. The practitioners are graduates from psychology, education and social science and have undergone an in-depth training programme provided by NEPS. The focus of the support to be provided under Strand 2 is on strengthening whole school preventative approaches. This includes the provision of psycho-educational support for parents and teachers, and the provision of early intervention to children with mild/emerging need, using low-level therapeutically-informed approaches. To date, 20 Education Wellbeing Practitioners have been recruited to the four cluster areas. The supports being offered are to pupils, parents, and school staff to support the wellbeing and resilience of the school community.

The pilot is being currently being externally evaluated by the Centre for Effective Services, who were the successful bidder following a competitive tendering process. The Department of Education and Youth anticipate that the evaluation report will be finalised in Q3 2025. Through this evaluation we are confident that we will gather valuable learning that will inform future policy and provision in this area.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether, following the pilot programme for counselling services in primary schools, she intends to roll out counselling supports to all schools nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36497/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Youth is committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our children. I am delighted to update you on the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot 2023-2025. The Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot has two strands and works to support children’s wellbeing and mental health in schools. Strand 1 sees direct counselling supports being provided to primary schools for the first time. My Department has set up county panels of pre-approved private counsellors providing one-to-one counselling in primary schools in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan and Tipperary. To date, 45 counsellors have been recruited across the seven pilot counties. In the 2023/2024 school year 382 children availed of counselling under the pilot. To date, in the 2024/2025 school year, at least 653 children have availed of counselling.

In October 2024, my Department announced the extension of Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Finglas, Ballymun and Darndale. The schools that will now be included in the pilot have been identified by the Department of Education and Youth as supporting children from areas with some of the highest levels of disadvantage in the State. There are currently 9 counsellors on the panel for these areas and NEPS are continuing to accept and process applications on a rolling basis.

Strand 2 is the introduction of Education Wellbeing Teams to provide enhanced in-school supports for a cluster of primary schools in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16. The Education Wellbeing Practitioner is a new type of practitioner being introduced as part of this pilot to provide enhanced in-school support. The practitioners are graduates from psychology, education and social science and have undergone an in-depth training programme provided by NEPS. The focus of the support to be provided under Strand 2 is on strengthening whole school preventative approaches. This includes the provision of psycho-educational support for parents and teachers, and the provision of early intervention to children with mild/emerging need, using low-level therapeutically-informed approaches. To date, 20 Education Wellbeing Practitioners have been recruited to the four cluster areas. The supports being offered are to pupils, parents, and school staff to support the wellbeing and resilience of the school community.

The pilot is being externally evaluated by the Centre for Effective Services, who were the successful bidder following a competitive tendering process. Through this evaluation we are confident that we will gather valuable learning that will inform future policy and provision in this area.