Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to his Department for chaplaincy services in secondary schools; noting that their role is different to school guidance services, but asking whether they overlap in any way; the schools entitled to have a full-time chaplaincy service paid for by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8742/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department allocates chaplain posts to Community and Comprehensive Schools and designated Community Colleges. There are currently 152 whole time equivalent chaplain posts allocated to these schools. The annual cost is approximately €9m.

The appointment of chaplains to these schools flow from the original agreements concluded when the schools concerned were established. The chaplains are not necessarily teachers of religion and perform pastoral and counselling roles. Under current arrangements they can teach a minimum number of hours and subject to their individual qualifications this may be for subjects other than religion.

Schools have autonomy in relation to how to use their standard staffing allocation for the provision of subjects to their students. As a result of the recent budget measure the standard staffing allocation must, from September 2012, also be used for the provision of guidance to students. The provision of guidance continues to remain a statutory requirement for schools and my Department's forthcoming Circular will make this clear. It will also make clear that guidance is a whole school activity and under existing arrangements each school is expected to develop a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students.