To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 14264/22-27, whether he is engaging with the Minister of Health to assess the scope for jointly funding counselling services in primary schools.

There is no specific engagement currently ongoing in relation to a jointly funded primary school counselling service between the Departments of Education and Health. You will be aware of the challenging financial context across departments which means that budgets and investments are severely constrained. As with all services that are not statutory, investment is limited to budget availability.

However, both departments continue to collaborate to provide wider emotional health and wellbeing support in primary schools through the joint DE / DoH Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework. The main emphasis of the Framework is to support schools to promote emotional health and wellbeing at a universal level and providing early and enhanced support for those children and young people who may be at risk or showing signs of needing further help.