Ministers must acknowledge support cutbacks

Listening to minister of state Kathleen Lynch on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday or Enda Kenny in the Dáil on Wednesday, you would think cutting counselling supports in schools had been a blessing.

Mr Kenny told TDs that schools were given more autonomy when guidance counselling was included in their teacher allocations from last autumn, even though they were previously an additional staff member.

What he or Ms Lynch — who told radio listeners yesterday that teachers and caretakers can be the ones to sort out the troubles of a struggling teenager — should do is stop pretending there have been no cuts to care supports in schools.