To ask the Minister of Education for his assessment of Secondary Level Pastoral Care provision in meeting the personal and social development of pupils; and to detail the budget allocated for these services in each of the last three years.

Pastoral care is about schools demonstrating their concern for the personal and social development of all pupils, regardless of age or ability. Pastoral care is at its most effective when it is all pervasive and fully integrated into the school’s daily routines, its curriculum and its extra-curricular activities.

It is recognised that Pastoral care provision will differ from school to school but the quality of pastoral care influences the whole-school ethos and is of crucial importance in creating an atmosphere in which all young people feel secure, know they are valued as individuals and encouraged in their learning, growth and social development in a healthy and safe environment.

Individual schools’ pastoral care provision is evaluated through the inspection process. There is no budget for pastoral care provision.

You may wish to note that the Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (primary level) and Learning for Life and Work (post-primary) elements of the revised curriculum both provide opportunities to discuss and explore a wide range of personal and social development issues such as relationships, drugs, alcohol, etc, so that pupils are better equipped to make good choices and decisions.