Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the commitment in the confidence and supply arrangement on career guidance counsellors and the implementation of same. [16457/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The measures announced by my Department as part of Budget 2016 and 2017 mean that 400 guidance posts, or two thirds of the Guidance allocation that was withdrawn in Budget 2012, will be restored to schools from September 2017.

It has been made clear that all these 400 posts are allocated separately and transparently, and outside of the quota on the normal schedule of posts. This has been made clear in the circular and the schedule of posts which accompanied it. It has also been made clear in all of our communications with schools and with management bodies.

This means that there is now an obligation on schools to ensure that these hours are used for guidance activities. Schools can decide to allocate more hours to guidance than the amount allocated on the schedule. They cannot allocate fewer.

The guidance plan will outline the school's approach to guidance generally, and how students can be supported and assisted in making choices and successful transitions in the personal and social, educational and career areas.

In line with best practice, and in line with practice in the Irish educational system for almost 20 years, the allocation of these hours within the school take place in accordance with the Whole School Guidance Plan.

The guidance counsellor will form a central part of the plan, which sets out how the entire resources of the school will work towards achieving the best possible outcomes for the students in the guidance area. It is likely that the vast majority of these activities will be delivered by guidance counsellors; however, in many schools it will be decided that some activities may be delivered by other staff members - eg year heads. These decisions will depend on the specific needs of the student population.

My Department has also made it clear that schools' guidance plans should include specified time allocation for guidance counsellors to be available for one to one guidance counselling, and time allocation for the role in supporting the organisation and work of the Student Support Team.

As part of the Whole School Evaluation process, inspectors in the Department of Education and Skills examine guidance provision in schools, including confirming that a whole-school guidance plan is in place. The Department's Inspectorate also has a specific programme of guidance inspections in schools.

Following a school inspection any recommendations made by an inspector will be communicated to the school, and the Board of Management and patron body will be required to implement these recommendations. The Inspectorate carry out follow-through inspections to monitor compliance by schools with recommendations made.

The Department, in determining its inspection programme for schools, will take into account all information available to it, including where a complaint has been made regarding non-compliance, and decisions around inspections will be based on this information.