Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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612. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if teaching hours will be ring-fenced for career guidance in post-primary schools from the commencement of the 2017/2018 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28686/17]

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as part of Budget 2016 and 2017 mean that 400 guidance posts, or two thirds of the Guidance allocation that was withdrawn in Budget 2012, will be restored to schools from September 2017.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 on the schedule of posts.  It is also clearly outlined in the circulars governing staffing arrangements and in all of my Department's 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. 

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 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.

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.

Furthermore, my Department is carrying out a survey of schools to obtain comprehensive information on how they use the guidance posts allocated to them. The results of this survey will be used to ensure compliance with Department circulars and inform future policy in this area.