Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
512. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered evidence from the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, the Teachers Union of Ireland and the joint managerial body on the impact of the cutbacks in guidance counselling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25891/15]
View answer513. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the percentage reduction in times for one-to-one counselling; the number of non-guidance staff who are carrying out guidance counselling functions in schools in counties Louth and Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25892/15]
View answer514. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether one-to-one time allocation in guidance counselling is fundamental in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25893/15]
View answer515. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on making it mandatory that career guidance counsellors form part of staffing for post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25894/15]
View answer516. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether her Department is meeting its obligation under the Education Act 1998 with regard to guidance counsellor provision; if additional resources will be allocated in the upcoming budget for guidance counselling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25895/15]
View answer517. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has examined in detail the role played by guidance teachers and counsellors who are employed in schools to provide assistance for pupils regarding their personal health and mental health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25896/15]
View answer518. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be taken to reverse the deterioration of guidance counselling services in schools; if her Department has engaged with service providers who have noted the negative impact it has had; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25897/15]
View answer519. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools of which she is aware in counties Louth and Meath that are unable to provide sufficient guidance counselling services from within their current teaching allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25898/15]
View answer520. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of career guidance teachers in counties Louth and Meath working in each of the secondary schools and post-leaving certificate colleges; the number of students in each college; the number five years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25899/15]
View answer521. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of career guidance teachers working in each of the secondary schools and post-leaving certificate colleges; the number of students in each college; the number five years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25900/15]
View answer522. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reinstating the previous policy on the allocation of guidance counsellors to schools, on a basis of one per 500 students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25901/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 512 to 522, inclusive, together.
Up until September 2012, an ex-quota allocation was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. This resource was allocated in accordance with pupil enrolment. 42% of second-level schools at the time were allocated at least 22 hours per week in respect of guidance (22 hours being the equivalent of one teaching post) while the remainder of the schools were allocated between 8 and 17 hours of guidance per week. Since September 2012 at post primary level guidance provision is now being organised by school management from within the staffing schedule allocation. Guidance is a whole school activity and schools have autonomy on how best to prioritise their available resources to meet the requirements in relation to guidance and the provision of an appropriate range of subjects to students. This operates at local school level and therefore the information requested by the Deputy on the current position is not available centrally within my Department. The Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. I am aware of the surveys and research referred to by the Deputy. In any survey or research it is important that it also reflects a school management perspective or encompass the role of other teachers in schools given that guidance provision is a whole school activity.
Guidance counsellors have two distinct functions. The first is general career guidance and guidance on the educational opportunities a child or young person might pursue, while the second involves support for students' well-being. The principal and leadership of a school have the best knowledge and experience to determine how exactly guidance resources and teaching resources should be allocated. The representative organisations for School Principals and school management developed a framework that assists schools on how best to manage the provision of guidance from within their staffing allocation. This approach puts a greater emphasis on group-work and class-based activity at senior cycle and maximises the amount of time available for those pupils that need one to one support. There are also a range of other supports available to promote and support the wellbeing of students. NEPS psychologists are available to offer their advice and support to schools in establishing and developing School Support Teams. The extension of the NEPS service to all mainstream schools since September 2013 also puts it in a good position to provide advice to the Teams in regard to students with particular difficulties and on onward referral or liaison with other community based services that also have a role in providing service to schools. Student Support Teams in Post-Primary Schools (DES 2014) is a NEPS booklet to promote the well-being of pupils in post-primary schools. Wellbeing Guidelines for Post-Primary and more recently for Primary Schools have been produced by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. The guidelines are informed by consultation with key Education and Health partners and by the findings of current research. They provide practical guidance to schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated school-wide way and they also provide evidence-based advice on how to support young people who may be at risk of suicidal behaviour. The Guidelines build on the significant work already taking place in schools, including through the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, the whole-school guidance plan, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) continuum of support model and the HSE, Health Promoting Schools Process. Information is also provided on how to access support from the SPHE Support Service and other external agencies and support services. It should also be noted that the proposals on the reform of the junior cycle envisage a new subject on "wellbeing" being studied by all pupils. I would also like to point out that I have repeatedly argued that improvements to the staffing and funding of our schools must be a priority as the economic recovery takes hold. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015.
I am determined that education should be prioritised for investment as our economy recovers and I will be seeking to agree a set of priorities for such increased investment into the future.
