Irish primary school pupils to be offered free counselling for the first time

Primary school children across seven counties will be able to access free counselling under a new wellbeing programme from the Department of Education.

It will be the first time psychological counselling has been provided within primary schools.

Education Minister Norma Foley will bring the plan to Cabinet today to outline the landmark €5 million pilot, with ministers expected to give it the green light.

This pilot is part of a larger project to implement access to counselling nationwide, as many young pupils are still suffering from anxiety stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that the pilot will receive widespread support from parents and school staff.

The programme is designed to help schools and staff to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on primary school children, as well as help address mental health challenges experienced by students from issues such as bullying and discrimination.

Ms. Foley will outline details of what officials say will be a “landmark wellbeing pilot” to provide counselling services in primary schools.

The Department of Education and pupil support bodies have noticed a lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of pupils.

Counselling services will be established in primary schools in close collaboration with the National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS). This body will establish panels of qualified counsellors which the schools can access, and will help to identify pupils who would most benefit from counselling services.

Funding for the new scheme will also be allocated towards establishing a new 'wellbeing practitioner' role in primary schools.

These wellbeing practitioners, after being given comprehensive training by the NEPS,  will work with schools on early intervention and the promotion of health and happiness.

The model that is scheduled to be adopted has been recommended by the National Parents Council and the Ombudsman for Children.

The programme will be used as a reference point to inform any further rollout of counselling services for schoolchildren.