Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the effect there will be on specific postgraduate qualifications in guidance following his decision to withdraw ex-quota career guidance counsellors from post primary schools in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39939/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, until now a specific resource was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. In future, schools will meet their guidance requirements from within the overall resource provided by that normal staffing schedule. Individually schools can continue to make provision for guidance and counselling, however, decisions on how this will be done will be taken at school level in the best interests of students and to ensure the best use of resources available. The change that has been announced gives schools greater autonomy in how they allocate staff resources to best meet the needs of their students. I am confident school management and teachers will continue to work together to meet the needs of the students in their care.

My Department recognises a number of postgraduate qualifications as acceptable for school guidance work. Teachers participate in these programmes of their own volition and at their own expense. As schools will continue to provide guidance and counselling services there will still be a need for teachers with specific postgraduate qualifications in this area. As with all postgraduate courses future provision will depend on the level of demand and availability of resources.