I want to raise the issue of career guidance in our post-primary schools. I am sure we all agree on the need for guidance for our students and young people, particularly post Covid and considering the pressures young people are under at this time of year leading up to exams. I would like to welcome the young people to the Public Gallery this afternoon.

As the Acting Leader will know given her background, since 2012 the allocation of guidance hours is a matter for the school management. It is up to the school management to decide how many hours are allocated to each school. Prior to 2012, there was an ex gratia allocation of hours across the board. Depending on the nature of the school, whether it was a DEIS school, a fee paying school or whatever, the hours were allocated en bloc to each school. That has not been the case since 2012.

That is a backward step and one I propose we look at again. Unfortunately, in some schools, management is deciding to allocate more time to teaching, or perhaps to guidance, whereas maybe due to the location of that school, it might be more appropriate to allocate more time to mental health and the pressures young people are under. It is something we should look at.

I ask that the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, comes to the House to discuss this issue. Our young people should be given all the necessary supports they so richly deserve in order that they can be the best they can be in their future careers.