Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide schools with ring-fenced resource hours for the employment of those holding a recognised qualification in guidance counselling to enable all schools to provide every student with appropriate guidance as per section 9C of the 1998 Education Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3643/15]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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This question is to ask the Minister whether she has plans to provide schools with ring-fenced resource hours for the employment of those holding a recognised qualification in guidance counselling, in order to enable all schools to provide every student with appropriate guidance, as is their obligation under section 9C of the Education Act 1998.

In the budget two years ago, this allocation for guidance hours was entirely removed, although the obligation for schools to continue to provide the service remains. It is high time that this decision was reversed and I ask the Minister to detail her plans, if any, in this regard.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have no plans at the moment to re-introduce a separate allocation of resources hours to schools for guidance counselling.

If economic recovery continues, I hope the Government will be in a position to improve the standard staffing allocation to schools. However, I believe that it is desirable to give schools some discretion on how to use these increased resources.

Guidance and counselling is a whole-school responsibility, with guidance counsellors playing their part within an overall team approach. Guidance counsellors have two distinct functions. The first is general career guidance and guidance on the educational opportunities a child or young person might pursue, while the second involves support for the well-being of students. The principal and leadership of a school have the best knowledge and experience to determine how exactly guidance resources and teaching resources should be allocated.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The very point is that by removing the resources, the Minister has removed the discretion of schools to ensure that guidance hours are provided. She has removed the resources and particular funding which had been provided in the past to do so. The Minister has left the responsibility with the schools which means that in order to provide the service, they must cut back other teaching services and also subject provision in many cases. However, schools have been unable to maintain the level of services. A survey by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors found an up to 70% reduction in one-to-one time between a guidance counsellor and students which had been provided previously. This is the impact on schools and the Minister should not push the responsibility onto already overstretched school management. The Minister needs to recognise the fact that the removal of resources for funding those posts means a reduction in the service being provided.

It is impossible to provide the service in the absence of these resources. Schools need a commitment from the Minister to allocate funds to reinstate the service, because it is high time there was a recognition that the cut was not one which can be stood over and it needs to be addressed and reversed.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The decisions made in recent years were not easy. Sometimes it was a case of deciding whether to reduce the overall allocation to schools or take specific measures. Schools are required under the Education Act to use available resources to ensure students have access to appropriate guidance to assist them in their educational and career choices. We have not removed the obligation on schools to provide guidance in this way. This obligation exists. As the economy improves, and it is improving, I will examine a range of areas where I believe we can begin to approve resources for schools. The most recent budget included the first increase in funding for education for many years and we will be working to ensure this continues. Resourcing schools is of particular importance, and I am conscious schools are having difficulty with the general resources they have at their disposal. It is something I want to address when we have more money in the economy.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Has the Department carried out an assessment on the impact this is having in schools? The Department has an obligation to ensure schools are equipped to provide a counselling service to students. Earlier, I referred to the survey by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, which outlined the cut to one to one hours in particular. Have the Department and the Minister engaged with schools to find out what is the reality? This cannot be stood over as there is more pressure than ever on students and they require a service to be provided by professional guidance counsellors. This is very important but it has been drastically reduced. I urge the Minister to prioritise reinstating resources to allow schools provide this service. What actions has the Minister taken to assess the damage this cut has done? Without admitting and assessing the damage, faith in the Minister's intention to restore the service will be diminished.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We constantly engage with schools on their obligations and the support and services they provide for students, and this will be ongoing. A range of supports exist through the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and other areas. We engage on a regular basis with representatives of management bodies on these issues. It is under ongoing monitoring. I certainly agree it is my obligation as Minister to ensure we have the necessary support for students in schools and for the schools themselves. The entire school has an obligation with regard to guidance and it is not only specific teachers. This is part of the Department's approach in terms of monitoring the situation. We hope we will be in a position to improve resourcing schools.