Minister for Education Norma Foley has announced the establishment of a landmark programme of counselling and mental health supports to be piloted in primary schools across Cavan, Monaghan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo and Tipperary.
The new programme recognises the impact of Covid-19 on school children and will work to mitigate the subsequent mental health challenges being experienced in schools. Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Niamh Smyth and Senator Robbie Gallagher highlighted how wellbeing is at the very heart of the education system and its development and promotion are essential tools in allowing children to learn and grow to the very best of their abilities.
Deputy Smyth added that research has revealed that principals and teachers believe there is a need for this free counselling service across the board. "It's important to say that this is a €5m programme that is going to be rolled out across schools in our two counties. It's a one-to-one counselling service and will be rolled out in two streams.
"One stream is the one-to-one counselling service; the second will develop and promote wellbeing in a more broader sense across schools," she said. Meanwhile, Senator Gallagher pointed to how the delivery of this pilot programme will ensure that children with mental health needs are provided with accessible and responsive services.
He says that will allow them to reach their educational potential and experience improved outcomes. "Every parent wants the very best for their children and wellbeing is vitally important to that in order that our children can be the best that they can be.
"We are under no illusions of the pressures that children are under now-a-days and the service that is being introduced today by the Minister is very-much overdue, I would suggest," added Senator Gallagher.
