Written answers

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of chaplains in Dublin post primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55650/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Chaplain posts are allocated in respect of Community and Comprehensive Schools and designated Community Colleges.

There are currently 37 whole time equivalent chaplain posts allocated to Dublin post primary schools.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the Dublin schools that have lost the service of a career guidance counsellor; the Dublin schools that are sharing the service of a career guidance counsellor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55651/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The budget measure introduced for the current school year 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.

Teacher allocations to post primary schools for the 2012/13 school year have effectively been settled at this stage and schools have autonomy on how best to prioritise their available resources to meet the requirements in relation to guidance and the provision of an appropriate range of subjects to students.

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.

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