Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement an analysis or assessment on the impact in schools arising from changes to the ex-quota allocation which has reduced the provision of career guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51338/12]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the findings of a recent survey of principals from the Joint Managerial Body on the impact of the loss of guidance hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51304/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 119 together.

The day to day management of how teaching resources are used in schools is done at local school level. It is established policy that guidance is a whole school activity and under existing arrangements each school develops a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students. I am confident schools will act in the best interest of students.

I acknowledge that the reduction in resources to second level schools is challenging for schools and this is borne out by the survey undertaken by the JMB. However, the budget measure that requires schools to manage the provision of guidance from within their standard staffing allocation, the alternative to which was to make an adjustment to the standard staffing schedule, must be seen in the context of our very difficult budgetary constraints. It is also worth pointing out that, as part of last years budgetary measures, my Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations.