Vol. 408 No. 2
56 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education if there are posts available for social workers or student counsellors in community schools; if so, whether there are any vacancies for such posts at the moment; and the necessary academic experience and other requirements for such posts.
123 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education if there are posts as social workers or student counsellors in community schools; if so, whether there are any vacancies for such posts at present; the academic experience and other qualifications which are required for these posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
125 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Education if posts as social workers or student counsellors exist in community schools; if so, whether there are vacancies for such posts at present and the academic experience and other requirements necessary for such posts.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 123 and 125 together.
There is no provision for the establishment of posts as social workers in community schools. My Department would not be the responsible authority for the support of a social work service.
My Department do, however, support a guidance and counselling service in second-level schools. All second-level schools with an enrolment of 500 pupils or more qualify for ex-quota guidance teachers, who engage in vocational, educational and personal counselling of students. The conditions necessary for appointment to such a post in a community school are that the teacher satisfies the ordinary requirements for appointment as a teacher, and has an acceptable qualification in guidance.
