Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020
181. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional hours and funding will be provided to school guidance counsellors to better support students returning to school for the 2020/2021 academic year; her views on the recommendations of the campaign formed by organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19267/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have noted the recommendations of the campaign formed by organisations (details supplied)
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announced by my Department as part of Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018 mean that 500 of the 600 guidance posts that were withdrawn in Budget 2012 were restored to schools from September 2018.
As part of the COVID-19 operational supports to schools for the 2020/21 school year, I was happy to announce that under the plan to reopen schools, 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.
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.
The wellbeing and mental health of our school communities is a fundamental element of the Department’s overall plan to ensure a successful return to school as we continue to manage the Covid-19 pandemic. It is crucial that we support the wellbeing of our students and school management and staff in order to support successful re-engagement with teaching and learning.
Guidance will issue to schools on logistical, curricular arrangements and wellbeing supports to be put in place to facilitate the phased re-opening of schools. All decisions taken in relation to re-opening schools are based on public health advice.
The Department is working with a range of stakeholders in relation to this plan. An inter-agency group is to be established to help inform guidance in relation to wellbeing and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) will be one of the stakeholders invited to join this group.
In March 2018 The Department of Education and Skills commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out a review of career guidance. The objective of the review was to examine aspects of career guidance in the Irish education and training system in order to improve the existing career guidance tools and information and to enhance engagement with enterprise. The review was published in April 2019 and contained 18 recommendations.
On publication, an internal Taskforce was created and that Taskforce is now working on implementation of the recommendations, one of which is to appoint a national policy group to develop a coherent, long-term strategy for lifelong career guidance.
The Taskforce has met six times to date and is progressing the recommendations contained in the Indecon review. Considerable progress has been made and my Department will ensure that the IGC continues to be kept informed of ongoing progress.
Adult Guidance and information services provide guidance and information to learners and prospective learners on local and national courses available as well as career guidance and progressions opportunities. The Adult Educational Guidance and Information Service is available through the national network of 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), and is available to all people over 18 years of age, and to those over 16 years and not in full time education, prioritising those who are currently not in employment. There are currently no plans to increase the budget for adult guidance services in FET, however, this may be considered in the light of the emerging guidance strategy and competing funding priorities.
ETBI and the 16 ETBs are currently focused on providing resources and supporting learners. Significant work has been done to provide resources and supports online. For the duration of this pandemic, guidance counsellors have been faced with overwhelming demand for support from learners/clients, some of whom may be suffering from a range of mental stress or emotional problems. During this time, guidance counsellors have mainly been delivering their services online and continue to deliver a professional service particularly to those who may be experiencing anxiety, uncertainty, bereavement, poverty, loneliness, lack of purpose. However, it must be recognised that there is a proportion of FET learners with no access to resources and supports online due to issues with broadband and lack of ICT equipment.
