Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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581. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of employing a full-time guidance counsellor in every secondary school and an additional position for schools over 500 pupils. [57359/23]

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.

Current expenditure on guidance counsellors posts in second level schools stands at €68 million.

There are 409 post primary schools with an enrolment in excess of 500 pupils. The average cost of a post primary teacher is currently €73,270.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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582. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 212 of 23 November 2023 (details supplied), if she will reply to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57373/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Following the Deputy’s parliamentary Question No. 212 of 23 November 2023, I can confirm that my Department did investigate this matter raised in respect of the tutor concerned.

As of last week, I can confirm that the Department has been in contact with the tutor for further required information and it is expected that matters will be fully resolved shortly in relation to the balance of payment. While we endeavour to pay all claims in a timely manner, it is important that where there are queries arising, these are dealt with thoroughly and with a view to ensuring that all terms and conditions have been met.