Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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1295. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans in budget 2016 to reinstate and provide funding for guidance counsellors in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31536/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have no plans to return to a situation where there would be a separate allocation for guidance in schools. If economic recovery continues I hope the Government will be in a position to improve the standard staffing allocation to schools. However, I believe that it is desirable to give schools discretion on how to use those increased resources.

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.