Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests his Department has had from secondary schools for additional career guidance allocations; the number of such requests granted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25507/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has no budgetary provision for dealing with requests from schools for additional career guidance allocations nor are such requests generally made by schools. As part of existing arrangements short-term support is provided to schools that are dealing with particularly acute incidents that arise due to tragic accidents, bereavements etc. Short term support has been allocated to 5 schools in such circumstances in the current school year. It is important to note that the provision of guidance in schools is a whole school activity. Since the start of the current school year guidance provision is delivered from within each school's standard staffing allocation. I have already acknowledged to the House that bringing guidance within quota is challenging for schools. However the alternative was to adjust the PTR staffing allocations. The budget decision sheltered the impact for all DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations.