Stressed-out teachers to get support service

STRESSED and bullied teachers will have access to dedicated counsellors under a new service set up to help avoid a negative impact on their work in the classroom.

The employee assistance service announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin has been long sought by teacher unions as other public servants have had similar schemes for many years.

The country’s 55,000 teachers will have access to the service, with telephone or face-to-face advice available, as part of a €2 million occupational health strategy for the profession.