Budget 2012 introduced perhaps the single most damaging cut to education, that is, the removal of ex quota guidance counselling provision in second level schools. The Institute of Guidance Counsellors conducted an audit since then and it states that the current practice is "a portrait of inequality". One member of the institute described a wave of self-harm among teenagers that would alarm any parent. Teachers who are expected to teach as well as be guidance counsellors described it as a "bottomless pit" and "fire fighting", saying "you can just do what you can". That is the story in second level schools throughout Ireland since this cut was introduced. I spoke to Senator Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House, last week and she also told me about the extremely damaging impact of the cut in terms of the mental well-being of young students in second level schools who, until then, had access to guidance counsellors. This week, I met members of Comhairle na nÓg in Cork, the Cork City Comhairle or youth council. They conducted a survey on the absence of career guidance for them and their peers in second level schools. Again, there were very damaging conclusions regarding the absence of career guidance for them.

There has been a 51% reduction in one-to-one counselling supports in secondary schools. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, carried out a major study on this in the context of a report on the value of guidance counselling. It stated clearly that it has had a devastating impact on working class students in working class schools and that it has embedded disadvantage across our education system. That is the reason I was anxious, in the confidence and supply arrangement with the Government, to ensure that the reintroduction and restoration of ex quota career guidance would be part of that agreement and would be delivered by the Government. I realise there is resistance to this among, perhaps, officials within the Department or other people.

The suggestion that general improvements to the staffing schedule will somehow improve guidance counselling is not a runner, because we need the ex quota provision restored. Does the Tánaiste accept that the need to restore ex quota provision for second level schools is a very real issue for young people and teachers? Is the Government committed to bringing back ex quota guidance counselling to our schools?

The programme for a partnership Government strongly reasserts the central role of education. Indeed, the very first line is, "Education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life." There are plans to commit a huge amount of extra investment in our education system at every level. I recognise what Deputy Micheál Martin says about the importance of guidance counselling. We had to take extremely difficult decisions because of the cycle of boom and bust our country was in. There is a commitment in the programme for a partnership Government to reduce primary school class sizes, reintroduce guidance counselling to secondary schools and increase financial supports for postgraduate students with a particular focus on those from low-income households. As the Deputy said, this was part of the discussions in respect of forming the programme for a partnership Government. There is a very clear commitment to reintroduce guidance counselling. Based on my own experience, I believe it is extremely important in terms of identifying issues in schools, dealing with mental health issues and working in a preventative way with children who need particular advice and support. That will be discussed during the Estimates and there will clearly be consultation in the appropriate committee about how this reintroduction will be carried out in the coming year.

I welcome the Tánaiste's response and her personal observations about the value of guidance counselling, particularly in terms of mental health. The real value of a career guidance counsellor is that young people with issues in their family environment or personal issues can go to a counsellor and have a one-to-one session without any stigmatisation around the issue of mental health. They can get counselling in a very good environment - again, with the proviso that there must be fully qualified and dedicated guidance counselling provision.

The reason I put the question is that some of the replies have been somewhat ambiguous. A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Skills said that the aim would be to provide a whole-school approach to guidance counselling, including group work, class-based activities and other activities that focus on providing the best possible outcomes for students rather than exclusively using one type of activity. In later replies to parliamentary questions, there was talk about discretion being left to the schools and principals. This is not good enough and is not acceptable. I put it to the Tánaiste that what is needed is dedicated ex quota provision of career guidance counsellors outside the normal staffing schedule in second level schools. That is the key point.

Obviously, the former Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, made some provision for a 50% restoration of the cut that had been made in this area, which schools will have from 1 September.

It is not dedicated.

There is provision there for schools to examine how they want to approach this.

That is not good enough.

In respect of the Deputy's point about dedicated provision, clearly that will form part of the Estimates discussion. The Minister will examine the precise costings relating to that. There is a commitment in the programme for a partnership Government to reintroduce guidance counselling in secondary schools, but the Minister will discuss that with all members of the education committee and it will be discussed in the context of the budget.