26 February, 2008 - Minister Haughey launches counselling services information website for North Dublin

Minister of State with responsibility for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey T.D., today  launched a website providing guidance counsellors with comprehensive, up to date information on counselling and related support services in North Dublin. 
 
The website, accessed through the National Centre for Guidance in Education's main site at www.ncge.ie, lists all available services and includes information on referral procedures, waiting lists and contact details which guidance counsellors require when they are referring students for external assessments and supports. It will allow guidance counsellors to deal with students' cases with greater speed and efficiency.
 
The idea for the website was born at a meeting of representatives of service agencies which was organised by the North Dublin Branch of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC). On foot of the discussions which took place, the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), an agency of the Department of Education and Science which provides supports for guidance counsellors, then offered to develop the resource.  
 
Launching the website, Minister Haughey said, "we are living in an increasingly complex environment and this is often felt to a greater degree by students.  While the education system strives to respond to both the educational and personal needs of students, schools are encountering ever increasing and ever changing demands on their resources. The pressures in guidance counsellors are growing in line with these changes and they must be properly supported to help them meet the needs of their students.
 
This website will help counsellors deal with cases in an appropriate manner and will benefit service agencies by eliminating misguided referrals," said Minister Haughey.
 
The Minister said that the NCGE is willing to provide a similar service to other branches of the IGC on a phased basis and he urged them to take up the offer to compile similar information on service providers in their respective areas.
 
ENDS