asked the Minister for Education if she will carry out the recommendations of the guidance report on the provision of guidance and counselling in schools.
93.
Written Answers. - Career Guidance and Counselling Services.
92.
asked the Minister for Education if she will improve the conditions pertaining to the provision of career guidance and counselling services in schools in time for the school year 1989/1990.
94.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for career guidance in schools of fewer than 500 pupils as a career guidance teacher is ex-quota in schools of more than 500 pupils.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 93 and 94 together.
While I endorse the aspirations expressed in the report of the School Guidance Committee I would not necessarily accept all of the views and recommendations contained in the report.
When the overall financial position improves I hope to be in a position to respond to them.
In the interim I have arranged to have copies of the report issued to the authorities of post-primary schools as I believe that it should prove very useful to guidance teachers and to school authorities.
The Government commitment to the guidance service is indicated by the fact that it rescinded the decision of the previous administration to bring all guidance posts within the school quota. The authorities of secondary, community and comprehensive schools of fewer than 500 pupils are free to appoint guidance teachers from within the staffing quotas of their respective schools but I am not in a position to allow them to appoint such teachers ex-quota. However, in the case of such schools with more than 500 pupils guidance teachers may now be appointed ex-quota. In the case of vocational schools it is the responsibility of each vocational education committee to apportion the services of guidance teachers to the schools as appropriate.