Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address concerns regarding the impact of the removal of the ex-quota guidance counsellor allocation on children from less advantaged backgrounds; and her plans to enhance guidance counselling services to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. [22026/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have acknowledged that bringing guidance within quota is challenging for schools but the alternative was to adjust the PTR staffing allocations. My Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations.

Guidance and counselling is a whole school responsibility with guidance counsellors playing their part within an overall team approach.

Enhancing supports for schools, including guidance are among a number of issues raised in discussion with me as priorities within the school sector.

The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015.

I am determined that education should be prioritised for investment as our economy recovers and I will be seeking to agree a set of priorities for such increased investment into the future.