Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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621. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current expenditure on guidance counsellors in secondary schools; and the cost of employing a full-time guidance counsellor for each second-level school and two guidance counsellors for schools over 500 pupils. [22190/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has committed considerable resources towards the restoration of guidance counselling hours to post-primary schools, to the provision of CPD for guidance counsellors and to the provision of a national guidance counselling supervision service for post-primary guidance counsellors in recent times.

The guidance allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule.  These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the guidance needs of the school.

As part of the COVID-19 operational supports to schools for the 2021/22 school year, approximately 120 posts have been provided for guidance to support student wellbeing. These posts bring guidance provision in schools back to the level last seen before the financial crisis in 2012.

Current expenditure on guidance counsellors posts in second level schools stands at €55.2 million. 

There are 371 post primary schools with an enrolment in excess of 500 pupils.  The average cost of a post primary teacher is currently €67,600.