Sir, – Congratulations to Brian Mooney ("Removing counselling was a dangerous education cut", May 27th) on highlighting the damage done to adolescent support services by the removal of every cent (all €32 million) from the guidance and counselling service in schools. The Minister's decision has brought us back to the 1960s in terms of the level of support for troubled young people in schools.
Having been a guidance counsellor for 35 years in a boys’ school, I know how difficult it can be for a young man in particular to approach the door of the guidance counsellor through the dark fog of near-despair. A responsive service meant that the knock on the door was always answered in all those years. I dread to think of what happens now that the room is empty. – Yours, etc,
ARTHUR DUNNE,
St Mary’s Villas,
Drogheda, Co Louth.