Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the recorded start date of a teacher (details supplied) for pension purposes in her Department's records as there seems to be some confusion about it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35104/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that officials from the Pension Unit of my Department are currently in contact with the person referred to in your correspondence in relation to her pensionable status and pensionable service. Officials in Pension Unit expect to bring these matters to a satisfactory conclusion in the coming days.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that Guidance Counsellors are allocated on a Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) based on the number of students enrolled in the school. As set out in the staffing circular staffing circular www.gov.ie/en/circular/84e36-staffing-arrangements-in-voluntary-secondary-schools-for-the-202324-school-year/.

“Each school receives an allocation in respect of Guidance Provision. It is calculated by reference to the approved enrolment, including PLC pupils. The allocation is the difference between the PTR of 19:1 and a reduced PTR:

In deploying the guidance allocation, schools are encouraged to give due consideration to the pivotal role the qualified guidance counsellor plays in the implementation of the whole school guidance plan. The guidance counsellor will require time for individual student appointments, for Guidance lessons, and general guidance related work within the context of the Whole School Guidance plan”.

The current allocation of Guidance Counsellors for post-primary schools for 2023/24 is 928 posts. The average cost of employing a teacher is currently €73,270 (incl ER PRSI).

The estimated cost therefore, to increase the current allocation of Guidance Counsellors by 50% (464 posts) would be 464 x €73,270 = €33,997,280 per year.

There were 727 post primary schools in Ireland in 2022/23. The estimated cost of providing an additional full time guidance counsellor to each post-primary school would be 727 x €73,270 = €53,267,290 per year.