Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is aware that guidance provision is now managed from schools within their standard teacher allocation rather than separately, as had been the case. Schools continue to make provision for guidance and counselling and such decisions are made by principals in the best interest of their students. They know them, their environment and their interests and will have the best regard to using the resources available to them. As the Deputy is well aware, this is not the responsibility of any single individual; all teachers have an important role, including the year heads selected by students. That is often an important element to consider when bringing the difficulties that arise to the attention of school principals and leaders. The changes announced last year give greater autonomy to school principals in how they allocate resources to best meet the needs of their students. It is also worth pointing out that as part of the budgetary measures the Department helped to shelter the impact of this change, particularly for DEIS post-primary schools, by improving their standard staffing allocations.

The anti-bullying action plan announced by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, set out 12 actions designed to help prevent and tackle bullying in schools. This is a 24-7 operation. Many young people are either the subject of bullying on a regular basis or are intent on bullying. I have talked to many young people who are well aware of fellow students and peers who become subject to this practice. Unfortunately it has ended in tragic consequences in a number of cases and we want to do everything we can to prevent that kind of outcome.

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