Vol. 509 No. 6
565 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the counselling service to the schools in south Kerry has been funded by the South Kerry Development Partnership; if his Department will fund this service in view of the fact funding is now ceasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21241/99]
It is my understanding that the counselling service referred to is funded from various sources and that a subvention from the South Kerry development partnership has been made available for some years. The counselling service is available to three post-primary schools in Killarney, all of which have an ex-quota guidance counsellor allocated to them by my Department. When students require more specialised coun selling than can be catered for by the school counsellor, all post primary schools have the services of a psychologist from the national educational psychological service agency attached to my Department. The psychologist may provide the required counselling or, if considered necessary, will refer such students to the relevant health board or to one of the voluntary counselling services funded by the health board.
