Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I appreciate Senator Conway's remarks. We are in the difficult situation of having to reduce our expenditure, a message that must be repeated on a daily basis as people tend to forget it. In looking at reduction of resources in the secondary school sector I was faced with the option of disimproving the general pupil-teacher ratio. What persuaded me against that was that, unlike in the primary school sector, such a reduction could result in the loss of a language or science teacher in a particular school, in schools with enrolments of between 250 and 400 as against those with a complement of 1,000 pupils, which is the proposed benchmark in terms of resource or second teachers. In an effort to have minimum impact on total activity in the secondary school, I felt absorbing guidance counsellors into the general allocation of teachers would have a better negative impact - if that is not a contradiction in terms - than would disimproving the pupil-teacher ratio.

Some 42% of 730 secondary schools do not have a dedicated guidance teacher. There is a requirement on all secondary schools, through the Education Act 1998, to provide for guidance and we will issue a circular to deal with that in a specific way. I take the Senator's point in respect of guidance, given the difficult times we are in and from what I have learned from guidance counsellors prior to and since this decision was taken, namely, that the pastoral care element of the service as distinct from career guidance has sadly but increasingly become necessary because of the change in Irish society. The whole school community and subject teacher have responsibilities in this regard. Young people reflect the stresses and strains of home and are affected by family breakdown, loss of employment and the tensions which can occur within a family from time to time. A professional teacher will pick up fairly quickly on any changes in the performance in the classroom of students who are normally good at mathematics, English, Irish or whatever. The person in question may not seek the help of a guidance counsellor in a pastoral sense. Many teachers engaged in teaching a classroom subject will find themselves engaged in some form of pastoral care. Where a serious matter arises, it can be addressed by the principals and deputy principals. I had to make a choice, which I made based on advice. I know this decision has caused some concern among guidance counsellors. However, I assured the representatives with whom I met that the circular which will issue to schools between now and commencement of the next academic year will draw the attention of schools to their obligations under the Education Act 1998.