Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the impact of the Government’s decision in December 2011 to change the ex-quota status of the role of the guidance counsellor in second level schools, her plans to reverse this cut in the next budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25914/15]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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In view of the impact of the Government's decision in December 2011 to change the ex-quota status of the role of the guidance counsellor in second level schools, what are the Minister's plans to reverse this cut in the next budget? Will she make a statement on the matter?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have acknowledged that bringing guidance within quota is challenging for schools but the alternative was to adjust the pupil-teacher ratio staffing allocations. My Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. Guidance and counselling is a whole-school responsibility with guidance counsellors playing their part within an overall team approach. Enhancing supports for schools, including guidance, are among a number of issues raised in discussion with me as priorities within the school sector.

The previous budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60 million during 2015. I am determined that education should be prioritised for investment as our economy recovers and I will be seeking to agree a set of priorities for such increased investment into the future.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I welcome the fact the Minister will look for more funding. A long time ago the guidance counsellor was not included as a normal, run-of-the-mill teacher in a school. With our country hopefully now taking off, children will need the best guidance possible. I know from talking to guidance counsellors that there are problems throughout the country and they do not get the time to see all their students. Will the Minister give this priority as we are talking about the future of kids? Many kids go through traumatic experiences such as self-harm and they deserve us facilitating them as we did in secondary schools before 2011.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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This is one of the areas we will start looking at when we get extra funding. A number of priorities are brought to my attention all the time when I meet people in the education sector. Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service are also available to all schools now and the subject of well-being is one of the areas being discussed in the context of reform of the junior cycle. There are guidelines for this and I have committed to having well-being as part of the curriculum for junior cycle students. This is designed to address the whole area of anxiety and all the mental health issues with which young people are faced and have to contend. The issue of guidance counsellors being ex-quota and specifically provided for within the school system is one of a number of things we will look at.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I welcome that the Minister has said she will try to change this situation. I would also like to see guidance counsellors broaden their horizons to look at other skills outside their field, such as skills involving their hands, to ensure there are other opportunities for them. We are possibly coming to the stage where we will run short of certain skills in this country in the coming years and we need to look at things in a broader context.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We are very focused on that and the Minister of State, Deputy English, and I have been very involved in broadening opportunities in the area of apprenticeships. We are involving people who work in guidance in schools in this and we are involving schools generally by making them aware that these should be options available to young people.