Vol. 568 No. 1
128 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of career guidance teachers currently part of the second level education system; the current pupil/career guidance teacher rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15800/03]
180 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to increase the ratio of career guidance teachers to students. [15819/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 180 together.
All second level schools in the free education scheme have an ex-quota allocation in respect of guidance. The allocation for individual schools for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment in the school at the end of the preceding school year.
The level of allocation ranges from 44 hours per week, i.e. two whole-time equivalent teaching posts, for schools with enrolments of 1,000 or more pupils, to eight hours per week, 0.36 of a post, in the case of schools with enrolments of less than 200 pupils. A total of approximately 630 whole-time teacher equivalents are allocated to second level schools in respect of guidance in the 2002-03 school year.
The question of increasing the allocation to second level schools in respect of guidance will be considered in the context of available resources and having regard to the recommendations of the report of the expert group on the allocation of teachers to second level schools.
