Sir, – The news that Minister for Education Norma Foley is to develop a pilot programme of counselling supports in primary schools is, indeed, groundbreaking!
The initiative will be most welcome to parents, teachers and not least children in need of counselling.
My concern is that this pilot programme will not begin immediately: why not take the bull by the horns and simply offer all primary and secondary schools the money to provide counselling for their pupils.
Ideally, each of the approximately 4,000 primary and secondary schools in the State could be provided with €200 to secure the services of a self-employed qualified counsellor for one afternoon a week. This would cost €800,000 a week; multiplied by a 40-week school year, the total coming to €3 million a year.
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The benefits to the mental health of students would be incalculable; further it would alleviate the lengthy Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) waiting list and a significant amount of money would be saved.
So how about real action now rather than delaying – some children simply can’t wait!
Ian McCabe,
Dartry,
Dublin 6.
