Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 869: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of grants towards the purchase cost of test materials for guidance or learning support in post-primary schools; the level of grant in each of the past ten years. [10126/07]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 870: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the need for proper assessment of students for learning support and career guidance purposes and the cost of adequate test materials; and if she is satisfied that the current grant satisfies the needs. [10127/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 869 and 870 together.

Guidance as provided in schools refers to a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence that assist students to develop self-management skills, which will lead to effective choices and decisions about their lives. It encompasses the three separate, but interlinked, areas of personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance. In most schools guidance is provided as an integrated model with counselling support.

To date, good progress has been made in Ireland to develop the guidance service in schools. The National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) was established in 1995 as an advisory body to DES to assist in the development of policy and resource materials to support guidance delivery in schools, and to act as a centre for the exchange of guidance information and practice at national and international level.

Since 2001 a number of changes that effect guidance in schools have taken place. The NCGE issued a document entitled Planning a School Guidance Programme in 2004. In 2005, DES published Guidelines for Second Level School on the Implication of Section 9(c) of the Education Act 1998.

Guidance counsellors are professionally trained and schools are provided with an ex-quota allocation of hours for the provision of guidance. In 2005, a revised circular on guidance provision was issued to schools Guidance Provision in Second Level Schools (CL PPT 12/05), which granted most schools an improved ex-quota allocation. Guidance is well integrated into schools' provision of curricula and supports for students.

Grants are available towards the purchase cost of test materials for use in second level schools by qualified guidance counsellors and/or learning support teachers based on the criteria set out in Circular 0008/2007. For the 2006/07 school year, schools with less than 350 students may draw down €150 towards the cost of these materials. Schools with more than 350 students may draw down €250. Schools newly establishing a guidance/learning support service may draw down an additional €150 in the first year in which the grant is sought. Prior to the current school year and the issuing of Circular 0008/2007, schools were entitled to draw down between a minimum of €25.39 and a maximum of €203.16.