Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools who sought additional help hours in the delivery of the requirements of section 9(c) of the Education Act in the past 12 months; the number his Department approved; and the total numbers of hours allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42083/13]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will specify the change in the number of guidance hours delivered by guidance counsellors (details supplied) across all recognised second level schools and colleges of further education for the academic year 2012-2013, in contrast to the returns from the previous year. [42426/13]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills with respect to the returns from all schools in 2012-13, the number of schools that submitted a return where the teacher did not hold a recognised qualification in guidance and counselling and was timetabled to deliver a guidance counselling programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42427/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220, 247and 248 together.

Guidance is a whole school activity and it does not just involve the guidance counsellor. Under existing arrangements each school develops a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students.

Since September 2012 guidance provision is now being organised by school management from within the staffing schedule allocation. In this way principals have discretion to balance guidance needs with the pressures to provide subject choice. A framework document was published jointly by the Post Primary Management bodies and the NAPD (National Association of Principals & Deputies) in September, 2012 to provide guidance for school management in the allocation of teaching hours to guidance counselling in post-primary schools in the context of the decision in Budget 2012 to withdraw the provision of ex-quota guidance hours to schools. This should be of assistance to schools in terms of how they maximise guidance provision.

My Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. All 195 second-level school in DEIS have been 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 (23:1 in fee-charging schools).

My Department also has existing arrangements in place for providing short-term support to schools that are dealing with particularly acute incidents that arise due to tragic accidents, bereavements etc.. Five schools were supported in this manner in the 2012/13 school year.