Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

Counselling services for all post-primary schools to be tendered

Thursday, 19 March 2009

The Department of Education has announced a tender to provide counselling services in post-primary schools.

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane said: “Building on the success of the Independent Counselling Service for Schools, which has been fully operational from January 2007, my department has launched the next phase of this initiative in order to increase access for post-primary school pupils. Schools have a key role to play in offering support and help to young people who may be experiencing a difficult time in their lives. Children may experience a range of problems relating to a number of issues both in school and their personal lives.

“It is therefore vital that professional counselling services remain available in schools with easy access to all. Continuing with the Independent Counselling Service for Schools will provide an essential service helping our children to lead happy and fulfilling lives.”

Under the terms of the tender, schools are grouped into 11 regions and a counselling team will be based in each region. Counsellors will come into schools and pupils will have access to school-based independent counselling support. The tender will be advertised by Central Procurement Directorate and interested companies must register at https://e-sourcingni.bravosolution.com/web/login.shtml to download documents. The closing date is 3.00pm on 17 April 2009.

Notes to Editors:

  1. In the last year a minimum of three counselling sessions per week were provided to all those post-primary schools that opted for it. These were provided by the Independent Counselling Service for Schools with equal take up between boys and girls.
  2. The Independent Counselling Service Schools (ICSS) operates in accordance with ICSS Standards and ICSS Operational Handbook, copies of which can be downloadedlink to external website
  3. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.