Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision made with regard to the integration of guidance counselling hours specifically in DEIS schools in view of their particular needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44323/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target available funding at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. In last year's Budget, all 195 second-level school in DEIS were given targeted support by a more favourable staffing schedule of 18.25:1. This is a 0.75 point reduction compared to the existing PTR of 19:1 that applies in non fee-paying second-level schools. My Department also provided some limited short-term support to schools through curricular concessions in order to help them manage within their approved teaching allocation. In effect, this measure has helped offset the impact of the changes to guidance counsellor allocations in DEIS second level schools.