Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
in a number of geographical areas, in accordance with their approved areas of expertise and
competence.
The FÁS Baldoyle Training Centre contracted training provision and allocation is continually
reviewed and the provision of training in the Balbriggan area will continue to be considered in
this process.
School Staffing
190. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined
the role that guidance teachers and councillors employed in schools in providing assistance to
pupils regarding their personal health and mental health issues; and if he will make a statement
on the matter. [8181/12]
239. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the
context of section 9 of the Education Act on giving secondary school principals discretion about
the employment of school counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8032/12]
243. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will initiate
discussions with the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs
to review the role of school guidance teachers and councillors in their role in providing assistance
and advice to pupils regarding their personal health and mental health issues; and if he
will make a statement on the matter. [8175/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): I propose to take Questions Nos.
190, 239 and 243 together.
All schools must continue to provide guidance to their pupils. However, from September
2012 guidance provision will be managed by schools from within their standard staffing allocation.
As things currently stand and before any changes are made, 42% of second level schools
do not presently have a full-time guidance counsellor.
Schools will have autonomy on how best to prioritise its available resources to meet its
requirements in relation to guidance and the provision of an appropriate range of subjects to
its students. Decisions on how this is done will be taken at school level and I am confident that
schools will act in the best interest of students when determining precisely how to use the
teaching resources available to them.
Guidance is a whole school activity and under existing arrangements each school is expected
to develop a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students. These
requirements have not changed and my Department’s forthcoming circular will make this clear
and point schools to the relevant documentation and guidance available to support such work
by schools.
My Department will be issuing a circular to schools in the coming weeks for the 2012/13
school year.
Grant Payments
191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of
boarding schools in which pupils are entitled to attend and be paid the remote area grant
subject to being eligible under the conditions of this grant; the names of these schools; the
locations and roll numbers of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7553/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): The purpose of the Remote Area
Boarding Grant is to give pupils who are educationally disadvantaged because of their remote-
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