The government’s being warned it will drive children out of Clare Schools if it presses ahead with proposed cuts to the guidance service.
From September, schools must allocate guidence councillors from their existing teacher allocation and there are fears that principals will be under strong pressure to favour subject teaching over councilling.
A Fianna Fail motion against the cuts was defeated recently in the Dail but the Education Minister stated that he would clarify the budgetary measures in the coming weeks.
Clare Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley warned the guidance service was an essential support for students
Speaking in the Dail he maintained that cuts in the service could leave vulnerable students at particular risk.