Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 May 1995

Vol. 452 No. 3

Written Answers. - Guidance Counsellors.

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

111 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the shortage of guidance counsellors; and the steps, if any, she proposes to take in terms of increased training opportunities to ensure that the 100 additional guidance counsellors for second level schools announced in the 1995 budget will be available in schools. [5232/95]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

113 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education if she will have arrangements made for adequate in-service counselling courses to equip teachers to work with socially and emotionally deprived children; and if the recommended ratio of trained counsellor-child is 1 to 300. [5863/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 113 together. I am very much aware of the need for more guidance counsellors in our second level schools.

The allocation provided in the 1995 budget to cater for the creation of 100 additional guidance posts shows how much importance I attach to the area of guidance. I expect that those who will apply for the new posts will include trained guidance teachers who are not at present employed: teachers with a guidance training who are not at present involved in this area — perhaps because the school in which they are teaching does not have an ex-quota guidance allocation; qualified guidance teachers living abroad who might wish to return to this country in view of the available posts.

I have requested the Higher Education Authority to consult with the universities regarding the provision of adequate facilities to train the required number of guidance teachers. I also intend initiating a review of the whole basis of training of guidance teachers.

The in-career development unit of my department facilitates the ongoing training and development of qualified guidance counsellors by funding appropriate courses. Training for other teachers interested in the area of counselling is also funded by my Department.

There is no recommended ratio between guidance teachers and pupils. Generally speaking a school has not qualified for a guidance allocation where the enrolment is below 350 pupils. However, this aspect is being reviewed in the context of the additional allocation of 100 posts and the greatly increased emphasis which I have placed on guidance.