Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the very positive job figures published yesterday by the Central Statistics Office which show that 80,000 more people are at work compared to the first quarter of 2012, when An Action Plan for Jobs was first initiated. Employment in the last quarter increased in all eight regions of the country, with the strongest increases in the west, the Border region and the south east. However, we must continue to fine-tune the plan to ensure every sector is given the opportunity to benefit from the general upturn in the economy. I look forward to having the Minister back in the House shortly to discuss An Action Plan for Jobs 2015.

Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Education and Skills on career guidance and counselling in second level schools? I make this request in the light of a survey conducted by the Education and Training Boards of Ireland, ETBI, which runs one third of all second level schools in Ireland. The survey shows that nine out of ten school principals believe they are not delivering an adequate guidance service to pupils and that the service requires a 50% increase. We are all aware of the pressures young people are under, not only in making career choices for the future but also with mental health issues, bullying and other general pressures. In 2012 schools lost an entitlement to hours for career guidance and counselling which are now provided out of the standard teaching hours quota. The cuts have had a big impact on the time available to students and also put huge pressure on principals and deputy principals. The survey also highlights the concerns of principals and deputy principals about the inadequacy of middle management structures in schools generally and the impact this is having on their ability to implement the many educational reforms. The general secretary of the ETBI has called, sensibly, for a forum to develop practical proposals to address these issues. This House would be an ideal place in which to discuss the viability of such a forum. Perhaps the Leader might arrange a debate with the Minister on this significant issue which is hugely important to school principals.