BOB ROONEY, a founding member of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, is handing over his share of the reins, having resigned from the executive body of the institute last week.

In nearly 30 years, Rooney held a number of offices within the institute, including six years as president and further terms as public relations officer.

Also representing the Dublin Branch during all this time, he has been one of the main shapers of direction and policies at the institute from the beginning.

Father John Dunne, the institute's current president, says Rooney has given "inestimable service" to the Institute of Guidance Counsellors since its inception. "He has worked tirelessly to better our service to pupils in schools, particularly by his championing of the disadvantaged in schools.

Bob Rooney is currently careers guidance counsellor at the Boys Comprehensive School in Ballymun, Dublin. He is a founder member of the Ballymun Initiative for Third Level Education.

At a presentation to mark his retirement from the executive last week, Breeda Coyle, an executive member of the institute, spoke of his total involvement in local organisations, such as BITE and the Tidy Towns committees in Malahide and Ballymun.