Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
210 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make changes in the provision of guidance counsellors to schools; his plans to reduce the current provision of guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9148/12]
View answer246 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the guidance allocation for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9635/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 246 together.
My Department has just recently published Circular 0009/2012 to inform all post primary school management and staff of the staffing arrangements for post-primary schools for the 2012/13 school year, including in particular, the requirements to manage guidance from within the standard allocation. The circular is available on the Department's website.
Schools will have autonomy on how best to prioritise its available resources to meet its requirements in relation to guidance and the provision of an appropriate range of subjects to its students. Decisions on how this is done will be taken at school level and I am confident that schools will act in the best interest of students when determining precisely how to use the teaching resources available to them.
