Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he plans to redeploy FÁS staff to fulfil the role of school guidance counsellors in secondary schools. [41121/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have no specific plans in this regard. However the Deputy may wish to be aware of related activity in the activation area. The Government is in the process of establishing SOLAS - the new Further Education and Training Authority - with a new remit in this area. FÁS is being disbanded. As part of that process, over 700 former FÁS community employment staff have recently joined the Department of Social Protection to work alongside staff in the employments and benefits service. The new National Employment and Entitlements Service (NEES) of the Department of Social Protection will have a role which includes the provision of an appropriate career guidance support as part of the jobseekers engagement and referral system.

Teacher allocations to secondary school are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Until now, a specific resource was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. In future, schools must meet their guidance requirements from within the overall resource provided by that normal staffing schedule. As part of the budget measures all 195 second-level schools in DEIS will be given targeted support by a more favourable staffing schedule of 18.25:1. This is a 0.75 point reduction compared to the existing PTR of 19:1 that applies in non fee-paying second-level schools.

Schools will, of course, continue to make provision for guidance and counselling. Decisions on how this will be done will be taken by principals in the best interests of students and the best use of resources available. My Department has also provided as part of Budget 2012 for the filling of 300 Assistant Principal posts as additional alleviation for second-level schools. This will ensure that schools have sufficient management positions to ensure appropriate supports are available for all students including the important role of Yearheads etc.

The budget measures, including those relating to guidance, come into effect from September 2012. Schools will be notified in the normal manner in relation to these changes. My Department will be issuing a Circular later this month that will outline the detailed staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/13 school year.