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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Questions (540)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

540. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policy responses proposed or being examined to meet the increased pressure and demand on guidance counsellors in view of the impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic; if her Department has allocated enhanced resources and hours for guidance counsellors; and her views on the appropriate response of her Department to the increased support students will need from guidance counsellors to help them through the impact of the pandemic on career guidance, mental health and social counselling in addition to curricular and educational counselling. [18951/20]

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Written answers

Measures announced by my Department as part of Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018 mean that 500 of the 600 guidance posts that were withdrawn in Budget 2012 were restored to schools from September 2018.

This allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule. These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the guidance needs of the school.

It is important to note that in previous changes to guidance counselling allocations in 2012, DEIS schools were effectively sheltered from these changes as a result of a more favourable staffing schedule.

The Department has committed considerable resources towards the restoration of guidance counselling hours to post-primary schools, to the provision of CPD for guidance counsellors and to the provision of a national guidance counselling supervision service for post-primary guidance counsellors.

As part of the COVID-19 operational supports to schools for the 2020/21 school year, approximately 120 posts will be provided for guidance to support student wellbeing. These posts will bring guidance provision in schools back to the level last seen before the financial crisis in 2012.

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